Services for Ray Topping Sr. Begin Wednesday

Raymond H. Topping Sr., a longtime member of the Bridgehampton Fire Department who formerly served as both a chief and a fire district commissioner, died Saturday at the age of 85.

Visitation is Wednesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at Brockett Funeral Home in Southampton Village. Bridgehampton Fire Department will have a service at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

The funeral is planned Thursday at 10 a.m. at Bridgehampton United Methodist Church, officiated by the Rev. Joanne S. Utley. Interment will follow at Edgewood Cemetery in Bridgehampton.

Topping was born and raised in Bridgehampton, where he owned a business until his retirement, Harold H. Topping & Son, which repaired farm equipment, trucks and trailors.

Last year, Topping was recognized with a 65-year award for his service to the Bridgehampton Fire Department, according to his son, Ray Topping Jr.

Topping followed in the footsteps of his father, Harold, who also a fire chief and commissioner, and Ray Jr., followed in his footsteps.

In addition to being a member of the fire department, he was a former member of the Bridgehampton School Board.

A full obituary will be published later this week.