Lyle A. Tope

Lyle A. Tope, age 89, of New Philadelphia, died late Sunday afternoon, December 20, 2009, in Park Village Health Care Center at Dover, following a period of declining health.Born October 29, 1920, at New Philadelphia, he was a son of the late Walter R. and Charlotte “Lottie” Beaber Tope. A 1939 graduate of New Philadelphia High School, Lyle had been a standout defensive and offensive tackle for the Quaker Football team under coaches John Brickels and Woody Hayes. Lyle maintained that Coach Brickels was the true legend of New Philadelphia football and was proud to have been coached by him.On April 26, 1943, Lyle married the former Lillian E. Van Fossen. Theirs was a marriage that spanned more than 62 years until her death in May, 2005. Albuquerque, New Mexico, would be a brief home for the newlyweds. Within two years they returned to New Philadelphia in 1945. Lyle began what would become a thirty-one year career at I.F. Sales, a division of Rigid Tool, until his retirement in 1976. For the first twenty years of retirement, Lyle and Lillian relocated to Cape Coral, Florida, where they established many friendships and made fond memories. They relished the opportunity to entertain out-of-state family and friends. The Tope’s made their Florida house a home for everyone. Lyle will be remembered as a man who loved to work and keep busy. In addition to his career with I.F. Sales, he enjoyed farming and assisting his wife in the operation of the former Tope Day Care Center, which Lillian founded in 1948. A loving husband and father, Lyle was always involved in his children’s lives and their activities, from Scouting adventures to coaching his son in Little League baseball. When it came time to relax, Lyle turned to the outdoors and fishing. Although he professed to be a lousy fisherman, he usually caught the most perch on trips to Lake Erie. On his final trip to Canada with his son in 1998, he also caught the largest walleye! Traveling was another favorite pastime of Lyle and Lillian, who in later years, fondly recalled driving through all the continental United States except for the states of Washington and Oregon. He loved seeing his grandchildren whenever he could and was in awe of his great grandchildren.Catholic by faith, Lyle was a member of Sacred Heart Parish until 1977, then St. Andrew Catholic Church at Cape Coral, Florida. After returning to Tuscarawas County, he became a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church at Dover.Survivors include his son, Lyle A. (wife, Michelle) Tope II of Dennison, five grandchildren; Tara (husband, Todd) Scott of Strasburg, Amber (husband, Eric) Garner of Canton, Abbey (husband, Andrew) Booth of Powell, Ohio, Nicholas Schreiner of Falls Church, Virginia, and Kristen (husband, Jeffrey) Kaltenstein of Kettering, Ohio. Two great-grandchildren; Chloe and Mitchell Garner of Canton also survive. Numerous nieces and nephews complete the family. In addition to his parents and wife, Lyle was preceded in death by daughter and son-in-law; Elaine A. (Tope) and James E. VonAllmen, brother; Lynn Tope, and sisters; Wanda Cramer and Thelma Krebs.Friends are invited to call Tuesday afternoon from 4PM â?? 7PM in the Geib Funeral Center at Dover where Father Matthew Hoover will lead a Christian Wake Service at 6:45.Fr. Hoover will Celebrate Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday morning at 10:30 in St. Joseph Catholic Church at Dover. Burial will follow in Evergreen Burial Park, New Philadelphia, after which family and friends are invited to the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the New Philadelphia funeral home. Those unable to attend are invited to share memories and condolences with the family by visiting the funeral home’s website. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 613 N. Tuscarawas Avenue, Dover, Ohio.