Harry Earnest Topping, age 86, of 800 West Ridgeway Street, Apt 602, Clifton Forge, Virginia, died Friday, January 29, 2010 at University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville.

He was born March 19, 1923 in Clifton Forge to the late Harry Robert Topping and Daphne Bossinger Topping.

He served in the United States Army in the European Theatre with General George S. Patton's 3rd Army, participating in the Battle of the Buldge.

He retired as conductor from Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and was a member of the Central United Methodist Church.

He was an avid golfer and a member of the Cliftondale Country Club.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn Mason Topping in 2002, and a daughter-in-law, Gloria Byer Topping.

He is survived by his son, Harry Robert "Bobby" Topping II of Clifton Forge; a daughter, Sue Ellen Topping of Clifton Forge; a brother, William H. Topping of St. Louis, MO; a granddaughter, Melissa P. Fuller and husband, Andrew of Roanoke; two great grandchildren, Rachel Elizabeth Phillips and Matthew Thomas Fuller; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday at 11:00 p.m. in the chapel of Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge with Reverend Barry Burkholder officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery, Clifton Forge. The family will receive friends Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home.

The Nicely Funeral Home, Clifton Forge, Virginia, is in charge of arrangements.