Biography:

Dr. Frederick Ord Topping was born at the Woodstock General Hospital in Woodstock, Ontario on the 13th of December, 1911.  Dr. Topping was the youngest of 3 children born to John Freeman Topping and the former Ethel May Standfield. (His maternal grandmother’s name was Ord.)  At the time of his birth Dr. Topping’s family resided at 56 Wellington Street and his father’s occupation was listed as a salesman.  His siblings were; John “Jack” Standfield Topping and Elizabeth “Ruth” Carr Topping.  By 1921, the Topping family resided at 302 First Street in Midland, Ontario and his father was employed as a bookkeeper.

Dr. Topping graduated from Midland High School prior to attending medical school at the University of Western Ontario.  He graduated M.D. in 1937.  After completing his internship, Dr. Topping set up his medical practice in Wheatley, Ontario.

In 1941, Dr. Edwin Malcolm McLean took over Dr. Toppings medical practice in Wheatley.

Dr. Topping was married to Eileen Janet Miller Dunn in Victoria, B.C. on the 5th of May, 1945.  Mrs. Topping was born on the 21st of May, 1914 in Edmonton, Alberta.  She was the eldest of  4 children born to James Carmicheal Dunn and the former Agnes Hutchison.  Her parents were both born in Scotland.  Her father immigrated to Canada in 1911 and her mother immigrated in 1913.  Mrs. Topping’s father worked in the coal industry and her siblings were; Agnes Mary Dunn, Sheila Carmichael Dunn and James Scott Dunn.  All of her siblings were born in Alberta and in the 1910’s and the 1920’s the family resided at 122nd Street in Edmonton.  Mrs. Topping was a nurse.

Dr. and Mrs. Topping had 4 children; Anne, John, Allison and Louise.

Dr. Topping enlisted in the Navy during WWII.  After his service to his country, Dr. Topping practiced medicine in Essex County.  In the 1960’s and the 1970’s Dr. Topping and his wife Eileen resided at 2431 Lincoln Road in the Windsor area.

Mrs. Topping died in Victoria, British Columbia on the 7th of March, 1982.  Dr. Topping died in Windsor on the 18th of May 1983.  He was survived by his children; Anne, John, Allison and Louise.  Dr. Topping had retired from the practice of medicine, prior to his death.

*Dr. Edwin Malcolm McLean is also featured on the Chatham-Kent Physician Tribute website.