Dr. Willard D. "Bill" Top 1928-2011

TOP DE VRIES

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 6/23/2011 at 23:01:15

Sioux City Journal
17 April 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Dr. Willard D. "Bill" Top, 82, of Sioux City died Wednesday, April 13, 2011, at Sunrise Nursing Home.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Grace United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Dr. Tony Nester officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel.

Bill was born Sept. 6, 1928, in Orange City, Iowa, the son of William and Lillian Top. He graduated from Orange City High School in 1945. He attended Northwestern College in Orange City, where he received an associate's degree in 1947. He earned his bachelor of arts at Morningside College in 1949, a master of science at Drake University in 1954 and his doctorate degree in education at the University of South Dakota in 1964.

At Morningside, he played football under legendary coach George Allen, later head coach of the Washington Redskins. After graduating from Morningside, he began a lifelong career in teaching and academics. His first job was as a coach and teacher in Schleswig, Iowa, where he also served as principal. He was then superintendent of schools in Ashton, Iowa (1954 to 1957), superintendent of schools in Moville, Iowa (1958 to 1961), and middle school teacher in Vermillion, S.D. (1962 to 1964), while working on his doctorate degree. He was a professor of education at Morningside College (1964 to 1971), where he also served as director of graduate studies and the evening division. He was responsible for launching the master of arts in teaching degree in 1967.

In 1971, he began a distinguished 24-year career at Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., as academic dean and vice president of academic affairs. He was a member of the American Association of Higher Education, the American College of Academic Deans and held several offices in the Alabama Consortium for the Development of High Education. He also served on college accreditation teams for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Upon his retirement, he received a Doctor of Humane Letters for service to Huntingdon College in 1995. Hundreds of students have received their Huntingdon diploma from the Top Stage on the Green, named in his honor in 1994.

Bill was united in marriage to Esther M. De Vries on Aug. 10, 1950, in Orange City. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2010 with a reception for family and friends at The Pointe. After retiring, Bill and Esther returned to Sioux City to be close to family, but spent winter months as snowbirds in Orange Beach, Ala.

Wherever he lived, Bill was an active leader in his community and church. He served as an officer and president of Capital City Kiwanis Club in Montgomery and Morningside Kiwanis Club in Sioux City and was a member of Interpro in Sioux City. As a member of First United Methodist Church in Montgomery and Grace United Methodist Church in Sioux City, he served in the administrative board and numerous committees, was a member of United Methodist Men, taught adult Sunday School classes and was an usher.

Bill was an avid golfer, reader and sportsman. After moving to Alabama, he became a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Survivors include his wife, Esther Top; two daughters and their husbands, Patty and Charlie Morehead of Sioux City and Anne and Ad DoCarmo of Montgomery; a son, Bill Top of Atlanta, Ga.; six grandchildren, Tracy Van Ginkel and husband, Steve of Dakota Dunes, S.D., Christy Morehead of Sioux City, Laura Morehead of Des Moines, Alex Kim of Chicago, and Allie and Andie DoCarmo of Montgomery; three great-grandchildren, Meggan Morehead and Blake and Brody Van Ginkel, all of Dakota Dunes; and a sister, Lila Netten and husband, Al of Bloomington, Minn.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Lillian Top.

Memorial contributions can be made to Huntingdon College, 1500 E. Fairview Ave., Montgomery, AL. 36106, Attn: Anthony Leigh, Grace United Methodist Church in Sioux City, or Hospice of Siouxland.