Josephine (Fawcett) Tope (1909-2004)

FAWCETT, TOPE, THORNE, COLLINGS, AMMERMAN, LETSINGER

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 6/2/2014 at 20:02:24

From Nevada Journal June 16, 2005

Josephine Fawcett Tope

Josephine Fawcett Tope, 95 died on August 29, 2004 in Sun City West, Arizona. Public memorial graveside services will be held 10:00 A.M. Saturday, June 18 at the Nevada Municipal Cemetery with Pastor Steve Williams officiating.

Josephine was born on June 29, 1909 in Nevada to Edgar A. and Naomi (Thorne) Fawcett. She graduated from Nevada High School. Josephine received her Bachelor's Degree from Northwestern University and did graduate work at the University of Iowa. She taught Speech, English, and Dramatics for five years at various Iowa schools. Josephine married Dr. Donald E. Tope and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where her husband was employed by the University of Omaha and was Principal of Monroe Junior High School. Josephine was active in the Omaha Community Playhouse and also worked as a substitute teacher. The Topes moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1944 where Dr. Tope was the Superintendent of the Phoenix Elementary Schools. In 1951, the Topes moved to Eugene, Oregon where Dr. Tope was a professor of Education. The continued to reside in Oregon until his retirement in 1970 when they returned to Arizona and purchased a home in Sun City. After her husband's death, Mrs. Tope moved to Sun City West where she resided until her passing.

Josephine was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority, the P.E.O. Sisterhood, and a charter member of the Phoenix Symphony Guild. She was a active and vibrant member of every community in which she resided and worked as a volunteer for many community organizations during her entire life. Josephine was a equal contributor for the gifts of three wind turbines that provide energy to the Story County Medical Center and the Nevada Community Schools, along with Harold and Marjorie Fawcett, sister-in-law, Marjorie Fawcett, and sister Naomi Letsinger, as being lead contributors to the S.C.O.R.E. project and the Fawcett Family Aquatic Center. She established the Fawcett Scholarship Fund which provides annual scholarships to graduating Nevada seniors bound for college. Josephine also contributed towards the support of the the First United Methcodist Church in Nevada. Upon her passing, Josephine left a generous legacy to enhance the quality of life in the Nevada community.

Josephine is survived by nieces and nephews, Ann L Collings, John H. Fawcett, Suzanne Ammerman, and James E. Letsinger.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, two brothers, Edgar Fawcett in June of 1965 and Harold T. Fawcett on January 28, 1999, two sisters, Naomi Letsinger in 2000 and Ruth Fawcett.

Chet Ryan Mortuary in Nevada has been entrusted with her arrangements.