Dr. Walter Royden (Topper) Franke, Jr. was born in Charlottesville, Virginia and moved to Galax, Virginia at the age of 4. He lived with his mother, Kathryn L. Franke and his grandparents, Floyd and Lola Landreth on Virginia Street until he left for Virginia Military Institute in 1960. Topper transferred to Lynchburg College and graduated in 1964 with a B. S. degree in math and religion.

In 1964-66 he attended Brite Divinity School in Ft.Worth, Texas. From 1966-69, Topper and his wife, Beezy, were missionaries in the Congo, Zaire. Topper served as a bush pilot for Disciples of Christ Christian Church. From 1969-71, Topper resumed his education at Brite Divinity School and received his B.D. degree and from 1971-73 he continued at Brite to receive his D.M.

Topper served as Minister of Education at First Christian Church in Carrollton, Texas, as Minister at Pecan Springs Christian Church in Austin, Texas and from 1978-86 he served as Senior Pastor at First Christian Church in Salem, Virginia. Topper then became Associate Regional Minister in the Area Office in Roanoke. In 1991, Topper joined his alma mater, Lynchburg College, as the Vice President of External Affairs.

Throughout his life, Topper served the community as well as the church in many capacities in his years as a minister, an advisor, and as a friend. He also served on the Salem City School Board, Lynchburg College Board of Trustee and various other boards and community organizations.

Topper Franke passed away on July 5, 2009. He is survived by his wife Bernice (Beezy) Franke of Salem: daughters and sons-in-laws, Krystin and Andrew Mann of Turks and Caicos Island, British West Indies; and Katie B. and Chris Faussemagne of Atlanta, Georgia. Topper is survived and will be missed by his three grandchildren, Grace and Kate Mann and John Faussemagne. He is also survived by brothers and sisters(in-laws) Monroe and Merle Morris of Topsail Beach, North Carolina; Wayne & Robin Morris of Gasburg, Virginia; Glen and Cindy Morris of Portsmouth, Virginia; Wanda and Marshall Conley of Hampton, Virginia, and many nieces and nephews.

Services will be held Friday, July 10, 2009 at 2:00 PM in the First Christian Church 402 N. Jefferson Street, Galax, Va. with Pastor Dan Netting officiating. Interment will follow in the Felts Memorial Cemetery in Galax, VA. The family will receive friends at the church from 1:00 PM until time for the service.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made to Lynchburg College, 1501 Lakeside Drive, Lynchburg, VA 24501; First Christian Church of Salem, 712 Front Avenue, Salem,VA 24153; First Christian Church of Galax, 402 N. Jefferson Street, Galax, VA 24333; Floyd & Lola Landreth Scholarship Fund of the Galax Excellence in Education, 200 Maroon Drive, Galax, VA 24333; The First Tee of Roanoke Valley, 3707 Densmore Road, NW, Roanoke, VA 24017; Brite Divinity School of TCU, TCU Box 298130, Fort Worth, Texas 76129. The family also request that any special stories or comments be sent to First Christian Church of Salem.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM in the First Christian Church of Salem with visitation and lunch to follow.