Joseph V. Topper, Sr., 91, formerly of Philadelphia, passed away on February 4, 2018 at St. Anne's Retirement Community in Columbia, Pa.  He was the beloved husband of the late Patricia (Dunne) Topper, who died in 2014.

He is survived by his eight children, Mary Pat Stark (Joe), Kathy Kenney (Brian), Joseph V. Topper, Jr. (Maureen), Marjorie Mannix (Mark), Ed Topper, Connie Hazeltine (Perry), Ginny Lutkewitte (Sil), and Gerry Topper (Cheryl); 22 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; sister-in-law Dorothy Kittrell; and many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to a Funeral Mass on Saturday, February 10th at 10:00 AM at Villanova University Chapel, Main Campus, 800 East Lancaster Avenue, Villanova, PA 19085. Visitation will precede Mass from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM in the Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested to the Joseph V. and Patricia D. Topper Worship and Learning Center at the Allentown Rescue Mission, 355 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101, St. Anne's Retirement Community, 3952 Columbia Ave, Columbia, PA 17512

Joe grew up on Foss Avenue in Drexel Hill, a defining place and time for him; street games, sandlot football, the Depression and most importantly, Catholic School.  He learned many lessons in all of these experiences and tried to pass them on to his 8 children.

Equally impactfull was his time attending West Catholic High School under the formative instruction of the Christian Brothers.  He spoke often of Coach Bob Dougherty and his years playing football.  He was a starter on the 1943 football team that won the Philadelphia City Title... a story you may have already heard, once or maybe even twice!

After high school he attended Villanova University on the GI Bill and graduated in 1948.  Too small to play football he was a line coach for the Kittens, the University's 150lb football team.  After graduation he had a brief stint as a taxi driver in the City of Philadelphia where he learned his aggressive driving skills, which his children certainly picked up from him.  He then became a salesman for Proctor & Gamble.  His next move set the course for the rest of his career.  He worked for the Mobil Oil Company achieving success beyond the wildest imaginings of that boy on Foss Ave.  After moving his family around the Northeast, he was transferred to Allentown, Pennsylvania where he became a founding member of the Parish Council at St. Thomas More Roman Catholic Church.  His family was getting older and he decided it was time to settle down for good.  With the love and support of his wife Patsy, he took a chance and left the Mobil Oil Company to purchase his own business, Quality Service Oil in Northampton PA. He brought his many years of experience and lessons learned from the petroleum business and guided Quality through the oil crisis of the 1970's.  Quality eventually became Topper Petroleum and he eased into a semi-retired lifestyle. If he wasn't on the golf course, he could be found in the card room at Brookside playing a competitive game of Gin.

He vacationed in Ocean City, NJ and as a child remembered feeling a sigh of relief after crossing the 9th Street Bridge.  He and Patsy had their first date at the Chatterbox.  Ocean City quickly became a favorite place to visit and share with their children, so much so that they eventually bought a summer home.   Many happy memories were created at the shore from riding waves, playing cards, painting fences, cleaning windows, and many lectures on the 36th Street beach.  He had many isms; Show me your friends... A penny saved...Sticks and stones and most importantly, Do unto others.  You may even find his children there today sharing those same lectures with their children!  The house was the perfect outlet for his tinkering skills; while he was not a master craftsman he could fix anything with Duct Tape.

After many wonderful years in Allentown, he and Patsy decided to embark on a new chapter - just the two of them.  They moved back to Philadelphia settling in Center City at Independence Place on the 20th floor.  He needed an outlet for his story telling so he volunteered with the Tourism Board giving tours at the Betsy Ross House, started delivering newspapers at Pennsylvania Hospital and joined the Board of Trustees at West Catholic providing him the best place to share his stories.  He and Patsy enjoyed many years traveling together but their one constant in these years was their nightly ritual of playing Gin.   Patsy knew he needed an outlet for his competitiveness and you could find their scores on the inside of books, magazines, and many pieces of scrap paper throughout the condo.  Even though he was the competitive one, they both took great joy in announcing who was winning that month.  Even in his last days he could still play cards and win!

After his wife, Patsy, his 8 children were his greatest joy… did you hear that story!  He loved how his family grew with the addition of each spouse, grandchild and great-grandchild, adding to the joy he already felt.  He was strict yet loving and was determined they would "turn out".   He knew he was tough on them and spent his later years apologizing but couldn't resist taking pride in their accomplishments.

Although his disease was robbing him of his memory, he never feared what lie ahead as he knew Patsy would be there with him along with his faith in God.  She was with him until her death in 2014. Shortly after he moved to St. Anne's Retirement Community in Columbia, PA.  He quickly won over the staff with his charismatic personality that stayed with him even as his memory failed.   His faith was formed by his parents and his early years on Foss Ave and became a comfort to him at St. Anne's where he enjoyed daily Mass.  He and his family were comforted by the rituals of his faith during his time there.  His family is grateful to the caregivers at St. Anne's for their loving care.  They enjoyed his laughter and were genuine in their affection for him and will miss him.

His wish for his family is for them to continue to grow, share and love each other and handle the bumps along the way, which he knows they will.   His family is grateful for the lessons he shared, the love he gave and the legacy of commitment to family.  They will miss him greatly.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to The Oliver H. Bair Funeral Home (610) 449-8585