Douglas Kent Tope, age 80, died in Oklahoma City, OK on Monday November 10, 2014 at 1:40 pm of natural causes. Born on September 27, 1934 in Denver, Colorado, to parents George Tope and Louise Brynn-Tope, he graduated high school in Denver, and attended a local community college, where drafting was a favorite subject.
Doug met Carol Ann Constant (of Seaton IL) while making a sales call at the Colgate Company in Denver, where Carol worked. They were married on August 30, 1958, and bore two children - a daughter, April, in 1964, and a daughter, Holly, in 1969. Doug and Carol remained happily married for 53 years, until Carol’s death from cancer in 2011.
After college, Doug joined Skelly Oil Company. His friendly and magnetic personality was a natural asset in Petroleum Sales, Marketing, and Management. He prospered with Skelly for more than 20 years, moving the family from Denver, to Saint Louis MO, then Springfield MO, and finally to Des Moines IA. Skelly Oil later became Getty Oil, from which Doug retired in the late 70’s.
In 1977, Doug bought a truck stop in Joplin, MO, and the family moved south. Trucker’s Inn at I-44 exit 4 was a thriving restaurant, gas station, and truck stop, during a spirited and patriotic period for the American trucker. The Tope family remained sole owners of Trucker’s Inn until the late 80’s, then downsized to a smaller trucking-related business, named T.I. Services. Located inside Petro Truck Stop, T.I. Services offered check cashing, mailboxes, notary public, and was honored to be one of the first lottery vendors in the state of Missouri.
Doug was a proud participant in Joplin’s community. He was a frequently published editorial writer to the Joplin Globe; a Century 21 real estate agent; supporter of both the Jasper County and Newton County Sherriff’s Departments; member of the Republican Party, member of the Tulsa Skelly-Getty-Texaco Chapter of the Chevron Retirees Association; a lifelong benefactor of the Republican National Committee; and a charitable contributor to the National Rifle Association, Heritage Foundation, Citizens Against Government Waste, Judicial Watch, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Wounded Warrior Project, Disabled American Veterans, World Wildlife Fund, Audubon Society, and various other non-profit organizations.
Douglas Tope was preceded in death by both parents, and his wife, Carol, who died March 30, 2011. Then in May, 2011, the F5 tornado which damaged so much of Joplin also destroyed their home on Jefferson Avenue. Afterwards, Doug moved to Oklahoma City to live with his daughter, April, and her family. His faith in God gave him strength to carry on. He is survived by daughter April (Scoles) Tope and husband Mike of Oklahoma City, OK; Holly (Robinson) Tope of Bonney Lake, WA; sister Susie (Cushman) Tope and husband Bob of Parker, CO; and twin granddaughters, Hannah Scoles and Kelsey Scoles.
Memorial visitation with family will be held at Parker Mortuary in Joplin on Saturday, December 06, 2014 from 4:00–6:00pm. Cremation services were provided by Corbett Funeral & Cremation Service of Oklahoma City.
Condolences may be sent to www.corbettfuneral.com/obituaries/Douglas-Tope or www.parkermortuary.com/obituaries/tope.
The family requests that friends consider placing a birdfeeder in Doug's honor.
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