Marianna Irwin Tope

Marianna Irwin Tope, 96, of Bidwell, passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2012 at the Holzer Medical Center. She was born April 30, 1916 in Gallia County, daughter of the late Ernest Luther and Ethyl Wickline Irwin. She married Wendell V. Tope and he preceded her in death on November 16, 1997. Marianna graduated from Raccoon Township High School and was a dairy farmer and homemaker. She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church, a children’s Sunday School teacher at the Church and a 4-H Club Advisor. Surviving are her children, Leland “Bud” Tope of Bidwell, Anita O’Donnell of Gallipolis, Karen Hamrick of Mansfield, and Gaynelle (Jon) Lynch of Gallipolis; seven grandchildren; thirteen great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; one brother, Melvin (Kathryn) Irwin of Gallipolis; one sister, Ernestine (Jay) Yerian of Jackson. In addition to her parents and husband, Wendell V. Tope, Marianna was preceded in death by two great grandsons, Jordan Mullen and Dalton Stephenson, two sons-in-law Odie O’Donnell and Richard Hamrick, two brothers Clarence Irwin and James Glendon Irwin, two sisters Frances Irwin and Edna Monroe and a stepmother Iris Irwin. Services will be 3:00 p.m., Monday, December 31, 2012 at the Willis Funeral Home with Pastors Marc Sarrett, Vinton Rankin and Patrick O’Donnell officiating. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Rio Grande, Ohio. Friends may call on Monday at the funeral home from 2-3 p.m. prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Marianna’s memory to Ohio Valley Christian School, 1100 Fourth Avenue, Gallipolis, OH 45631