Marilyn Topping

Marilyn Penney Topping passed away peacefully on Thursday morning, April 26, 2018 at home in Arlington, Texas. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, April 28, 2018 at the Fort Graham Cemetery in the White Bluff Community off of highway FM 933, Whitney Texas. The Rev. Ken James will be officiating along with Dr. Allan Lane, as assisting clergy. Viewing will be held at Marshall & Marshall Funeral Directors in Hillsboro 9-5 Friday, April 27, 2018 and 9-12 Saturday, April 28, 2018. Following the service at the cemetery the family will be at the Historic Cumberland Presbyterian Church on the grounds of the Hill County Cell Block Museum on North Waco Street in Hillsboro to visit with Marilyn’s friends.

Marilyn was born on September 15, 1922 at Fort Graham, Texas in the farmhouse of her maternal grandparents, George W. and Arminda Sims Sensing. Her parents were Clyde H. and Theryl L. Sensing Penney. Her parents moved to Hillsboro in 1923 where her only sibling, Anne Penney Newton, was born five years later. She attended Hillsboro Schools, graduating from high school in 1939 and Hillsboro Junior College (now Hill College) in 1941. She received her Bachelor of Science Degree from Mary Hardin Baylor College (now Mary Hardin Baylor University) in Belton, Texas in 1943. In December of that year she married Lt. Francis E. Topping, Jr. (Frank). They had one son, Francis E. Topping, III who presently lives with his family in Arlington, Texas. Her husband preceded her in death on May 22, 2003.

At age 13, she was baptized and became a member of the First Baptist Church in Hillsboro. She was a member of that same church at the time of her death. She loved Jesus and had faith in His words, “whosoever believeth in me shall never die”, John 11:26.

A teaching career of 27 years was spent first in the Hill County School System at Files Valley and Osceola, then South Davis School in Arlington, Texas and later, in the Hillsboro Public Schools. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma; Sesame Club; Hill County Historical Committee; Hillsboro Heritage League; and The Retired Teachers Association. She served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Fort Graham Cemetery Association for 27 years.

Marilyn loved Hill County and took an active interest in her city, community and county. She regularly attended Hillsboro City Council meetings and served on the Service Committee. From 1989 until 2012 she was curator of the Hill County Cell Block Museum. Other volunteer activities included many hours spent on projects concerning the Restoration of the Hill County Courthouse after the 1993 fire; the Hillsboro Sesquicentennial Committee (Courthouse Bell Plaza); a Director on the Boards of the Hill County Cell Block Museum; City Library; Heritage League and the Hill College Performing Arts. Her many hours of volunteer work were recognized and honored by the Masonic Anadarko Lodge #176 at a ceremony in Whitney, Texas in April, 2008 with the presentation of the Community Builders Award. She often said, “I enjoy volunteer work that keeps me in touch with interesting people and events. I receive much more than I give.”

Travel was a very important part of the Topping family life. She and her husband lived in eight states and visited all the states except Alaska. They lived in Isfahan, Iran for almost a year. They traveled in Mexico, Canada and Europe and made many trips to Boston, MA where her husband was born.

Marilyn is survived by her son, F. E. Topping, III and his wife, Darlene; grandson, Ronny; his wife, Candace; and great-grandchildren, Tyler, Eleanor, and Wyatt. Granddaughter, Jana, and great-grandson, Andrew all of Arlington, Texas. Grandson, Dr. Troy David Topping; his wife, Dr. Amy Topping; and great-granddaughters, Sydney and Alexis of Sacramento, CA. Other survivors are her sister, Dr. Anne Penney Newton, of Temple, Texas; her nephew, Tom Newton, of Robertson County, Texas; and a great-niece, Emily A. Newton Mattice and her husband, Kenneth, of Hagan, Germany; and her beloved sister-in law, Barbara Topping White, of North Abington, MA. Angela Dodge of Fort Worth who has been a dear friend and caring companion also survives Marilyn.


In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Hill County Cell Block Museum, P.O.Box: 55, Hillsboro, TX 76645 or The Fort Graham Cemetery Association, Mrs. Allan Lane, 356 Quarterhorse Road, Whitney, TX 76692 or your choice of charity.