John Toups passed away on December 14, 2024. His funeral is December 20 at 2 pm at Klein Funeral Home in Champion Forest. His wife said he loved th Houston Atros, so if anyone wanted to wear Astros attire, that would be appropriate.
John Toups, SWHS class of 1969, passed away December 14, 2024. (Obituary published on Legacy.com by Klein Funeral Home) John Andrew Toups, Jr. passed away on December 14, 2024. John was a gentle giant whose life will be remembered by the countless, close family and friends he collected around the world. John was born on October 15, 1951, in Beaumont, Texas, the son of John Andrew Toups, Sr. and Lu Ellen Toups (née Poole). John graduated from Spring Woods High School in 1969. After graduation, John went to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. At Lamar, John met the love of his life, Vivian Reynolds Toups and met lifelong friends including Jimmy Duncan and wife Jan Milligan, Randy Frith, Sam Wood and Sally Mahoney. Fifty years later, John was still close with friends from high school and college and had multiple gatherings called "The Big Chill." Despite all the fun he had, John still managed to graduate with a degree in oceanography of all things, in May of 1975. Shortly after graduation, on August 16, 1975, John and Vivian were married in the same church as his parents, St. Anthony's Cathedral in Beaumont. After graduation and their wedding, John and Vivian moved to Houston. John started his first job at IMCO as a drilling fluids engineer, after acing their interview exams. Unbeknownst to the interviewer, John had coincidentally been taking the same exams in old Reader's Digest magazines to fill his spare time while job searching. When he started, he was told he would not be in the field for at least a year. Two weeks later John was off on his first assignment, and so began a storied career that spanned the globe. Throughout the early years of their marriage, John was often in the field, where he learned how to play poker, spades, how to fish, and so much more. In 1981, John became Division Technical Advisor for the Western Region at IMCO, and John and Vivian moved to Huntington Beach, California. John quickly adapted to California life, laying out on the beach during his lunch break. In 1984, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where he built his first drilling lab. As the only married engineer on the vast North Slope, John never returned home without a collection of colleagues in tow, who were willing to test Vivian's recipes and chuck empty Scotch bottles into the snow. In addition to testing tents and chucking Scoth bottles, he met a lifelong friend in David Young, who has a unique Anchorage airport experience, including an unexplained missed flight (no Scotch involved). Despite his best attempts John had to deal with those from the "lower 48" who, in John's opinion, weren't prepped for the weather. Despite their attempts, John and his group were able to land halibut and salmon to eat, despite their pride and lack of bush knowledge, including when a shotgun was necessary. In 1987, John and Vivian returned to Houston and in 1989 John began working at BP. While working for BP, John was sent to Colombia, and despite failing to properly "lubricate" a local official, John was able to find his way out of a Colombian jail and jungle and return with emeralds and gold. After fourteen years of marriage, John and Vivian welcomed their son, Nicholas (Nick) Andrew Toups, in 1990. John embraced the role of being a father quickly and made sure to turn Nick's power wheels up to full power when Vivian wasn't looking. In 1995, John and Vivian moved to Vestal, New York, after the closure of the Houston Post. In Vestal, John took advantage of the change in climate and built a treehouse, which will likely outlast the house they lived in, for Nick to play in. In 1998, John and Vivian returned to Houston, where they reconnected with family and had many family gatherings and holidays. In 2006, John was offered a job working for Baker Hughes to build a drilling fluids lab in Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia, always up for a new adventure, John accepted, and the family moved that summer. Prior to packing up the house and moving half-way around the world, in true John Toups fashion, they had a party with all the family. At this party family from around Texas drove into Houston and celebrated with trashcan punch and the contents of a well curated liquor cabinet. What was originally a 1-year assignment, turned into 3 and a half years filled with new experiences, travel, new life-long friendships and bonus children, including Pavi and Saralla Chandran and their two children Vishayna and Vineeth, Kathi Swaran, Vijay Mani, Pranav Rastogi, Ben Tuite, Jeroen Schillings, Johnny Gray and Beau Andrus. In 2010, Baker Hughes transferred John to Aberdeen, Scotland to manage a drilling lab. In Aberdeen, John continued to make new friends and keep in touch with friends of old. He and Vivian frequently had a full house of family and friends who wanted to experience Scotland with Toups hospitality. While in Aberdeen, John was approached by BP regarding a job in London, something he initially thought about turning down, but later accepted after some brief negotiations and lots of encouragement from Vivian and Nick. In 2011 after accepting the role at BP in London, England at the Sunbury Lab, John and Vivian and Nick made the long drive down from Aberdeen to London. If you were to ask John where his favorite placed he lived was, he would undoubtedly say London. In London, John and Vivian opened what effectively became an AirBnB at 7 Redwing Gardens, welcoming everyone from family, old friends, bonus children and new friends, including his future daughter-in-law Ruth-Ann Eagle Toups. At 7 Redwing Gardens, John made memories ranging from some of the best Christmases ever with bonus children such as Stafford and Jill Burns and their children Ford and Langston, to trying to convince his future daughter-in-law that Paris was over-rated, and she should cancel her trip and stay with them in London. In 2015, John retired and moved back to Houston. John and Vivian moved to the same neighborhood as his sisters. Over the past nine years, John spent his time with family, going to Astros games, watching the Astros finally win multiple World Series, traveling, and hosting countless gatherings. On December 14, 2021, he earned yet another title, Grandpa, after the birth of his beloved granddaughter, Lillian (Lilly) Toups. Over the last three years, he had gained multiple other titles including "Pawpaw", Lilly's "patient" and his most beloved of all, Lilly's "giggle buddy." John is survived by his wife of 49 years Vivian Toups, his son Nick Toups and his wife Ruth-Ann Toups, his granddaughter Lilly Toups; his sister Sandy Fairleigh and her husband Mort Fairleigh and their children: James Fairleigh and his wife Ashley and their children Olive and Audrey, Claire Stidham and her husband Roy and their children Vivian, Judith, Tyler and Natalie, Annie McClellan and her husband Scott and their children Elise, Maggie and Jack, Johnny Fairleigh and his wife Erin and their children Bruce, Clark, and James, Andrew Fairleigh and his wife Ashley and their children Michael and Mackenzie, and Ben Fairleigh and his wife Piera; his sister Mary Ellen Searby and her husband Paul Searby and their children: Mike Searby and his wife AnnDrea and their children Bella and David, Laura Fisher and her husband Tim and their children Emma, Olivia, and Timothy, Charlotte Lachner and her husband Pete and their daughter Maddie, Steven Searby and his girlfriend Danielle Zahn, Timmy Searby and his fiancé Lexi McDonald, and Hannah Seagraves and her husband Zephyr; his brother Jimmy Toups and his wife Vicki and children Blaine and wife Brooke Toups and Katie Toups; his brother Steven Toups and his wife Sandra and son Luke; his brother David Toups and his wife Robin and son Dalan and countless cousins, and friends across the world. John was always willing to take in anyone that arrived and make sure that they had a good time. He made sure that those who appeared on his door-step were taken care of and that they truly understood what it meant to be accepted by a Toups. He and Vivian were the definition of hosts and people who everyone could rely on to show up when needed.
Randy Stalnaker
John Toups, SWHS class of 1969, passed away December 14, 2024.(Obituary published on Legacy.com by Klein Funeral Home)
John Andrew Toups, Jr. passed away on December 14, 2024. John was a gentle giant whose life will be remembered by the countless, close family and friends he collected around the world.
John was born on October 15, 1951, in Beaumont, Texas, the son of John Andrew Toups, Sr. and Lu Ellen Toups (née Poole). John graduated from Spring Woods High School in 1969. After graduation, John went to Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. At Lamar, John met the love of his life, Vivian Reynolds Toups and met lifelong friends including Jimmy Duncan and wife Jan Milligan, Randy Frith, Sam Wood and Sally Mahoney. Fifty years later, John was still close with friends from high school and college and had multiple gatherings called "The Big Chill." Despite all the fun he had, John still managed to graduate with a degree in oceanography of all things, in May of 1975. Shortly after graduation, on August 16, 1975, John and Vivian were married in the same church as his parents, St. Anthony's Cathedral in Beaumont.
After graduation and their wedding, John and Vivian moved to Houston. John started his first job at IMCO as a drilling fluids engineer, after acing their interview exams. Unbeknownst to the interviewer, John had coincidentally been taking the same exams in old Reader's Digest magazines to fill his spare time while job searching. When he started, he was told he would not be in the field for at least a year. Two weeks later John was off on his first assignment, and so began a storied career that spanned the globe.
Throughout the early years of their marriage, John was often in the field, where he learned how to play poker, spades, how to fish, and so much more. In 1981, John became Division Technical Advisor for the Western Region at IMCO, and John and Vivian moved to Huntington Beach, California. John quickly adapted to California life, laying out on the beach during his lunch break.
In 1984, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where he built his first drilling lab. As the only married engineer on the vast North Slope, John never returned home without a collection of colleagues in tow, who were willing to test Vivian's recipes and chuck empty Scotch bottles into the snow. In addition to testing tents and chucking Scoth bottles, he met a lifelong friend in David Young, who has a unique Anchorage airport experience, including an unexplained missed flight (no Scotch involved).
Despite his best attempts John had to deal with those from the "lower 48" who, in John's opinion, weren't prepped for the weather. Despite their attempts, John and his group were able to land halibut and salmon to eat, despite their pride and lack of bush knowledge, including when a shotgun was necessary.
In 1987, John and Vivian returned to Houston and in 1989 John began working at BP. While working for BP, John was sent to Colombia, and despite failing to properly "lubricate" a local official, John was able to find his way out of a Colombian jail and jungle and return with emeralds and gold.
After fourteen years of marriage, John and Vivian welcomed their son, Nicholas (Nick) Andrew Toups, in 1990. John embraced the role of being a father quickly and made sure to turn Nick's power wheels up to full power when Vivian wasn't looking.
In 1995, John and Vivian moved to Vestal, New York, after the closure of the Houston Post. In Vestal, John took advantage of the change in climate and built a treehouse, which will likely outlast the house they lived in, for Nick to play in.
In 1998, John and Vivian returned to Houston, where they reconnected with family and had many family gatherings and holidays.
In 2006, John was offered a job working for Baker Hughes to build a drilling fluids lab in Kuala Lumpur, Malayasia, always up for a new adventure, John accepted, and the family moved that summer. Prior to packing up the house and moving half-way around the world, in true John Toups fashion, they had a party with all the family. At this party family from around Texas drove into Houston and celebrated with trashcan punch and the contents of a well curated liquor cabinet.
What was originally a 1-year assignment, turned into 3 and a half years filled with new experiences, travel, new life-long friendships and bonus children, including Pavi and Saralla Chandran and their two children Vishayna and Vineeth, Kathi Swaran, Vijay Mani, Pranav Rastogi, Ben Tuite, Jeroen Schillings, Johnny Gray and Beau Andrus.
In 2010, Baker Hughes transferred John to Aberdeen, Scotland to manage a drilling lab. In Aberdeen, John continued to make new friends and keep in touch with friends of old. He and Vivian frequently had a full house of family and friends who wanted to experience Scotland with Toups hospitality.
While in Aberdeen, John was approached by BP regarding a job in London, something he initially thought about turning down, but later accepted after some brief negotiations and lots of encouragement from Vivian and Nick.
In 2011 after accepting the role at BP in London, England at the Sunbury Lab, John and Vivian and Nick made the long drive down from Aberdeen to London. If you were to ask John where his favorite placed he lived was, he would undoubtedly say London. In London, John and Vivian opened what effectively became an AirBnB at 7 Redwing Gardens, welcoming everyone from family, old friends, bonus children and new friends, including his future daughter-in-law Ruth-Ann Eagle Toups. At 7 Redwing Gardens, John made memories ranging from some of the best Christmases ever with bonus children such as Stafford and Jill Burns and their children Ford and Langston, to trying to convince his future daughter-in-law that Paris was over-rated, and she should cancel her trip and stay with them in London.
In 2015, John retired and moved back to Houston. John and Vivian moved to the same neighborhood as his sisters. Over the past nine years, John spent his time with family, going to Astros games, watching the Astros finally win multiple World Series, traveling, and hosting countless gatherings. On December 14, 2021, he earned yet another title, Grandpa, after the birth of his beloved granddaughter, Lillian (Lilly) Toups. Over the last three years, he had gained multiple other titles including "Pawpaw", Lilly's "patient" and his most beloved of all, Lilly's "giggle buddy."
John is survived by his wife of 49 years Vivian Toups, his son Nick Toups and his wife Ruth-Ann Toups, his granddaughter Lilly Toups; his sister Sandy Fairleigh and her husband Mort Fairleigh and their children: James Fairleigh and his wife Ashley and their children Olive and Audrey, Claire Stidham and her husband Roy and their children Vivian, Judith, Tyler and Natalie, Annie McClellan and her husband Scott and their children Elise, Maggie and Jack, Johnny Fairleigh and his wife Erin and their children Bruce, Clark, and James, Andrew Fairleigh and his wife Ashley and their children Michael and Mackenzie, and Ben Fairleigh and his wife Piera; his sister Mary Ellen Searby and her husband Paul Searby and their children: Mike Searby and his wife AnnDrea and their children Bella and David, Laura Fisher and her husband Tim and their children Emma, Olivia, and Timothy, Charlotte Lachner and her husband Pete and their daughter Maddie, Steven Searby and his girlfriend Danielle Zahn, Timmy Searby and his fiancé Lexi McDonald, and Hannah Seagraves and her husband Zephyr; his brother Jimmy Toups and his wife Vicki and children Blaine and wife Brooke Toups and Katie Toups; his brother Steven Toups and his wife Sandra and son Luke; his brother David Toups and his wife Robin and son Dalan and countless cousins, and friends across the world.
John was always willing to take in anyone that arrived and make sure that they had a good time. He made sure that those who appeared on his door-step were taken care of and that they truly understood what it meant to be accepted by a Toups. He and Vivian were the definition of hosts and people who everyone could rely on to show up when needed.
Dennis Moser
Farewell, farewell... rest in power.
D. Rodney Langford
Knew John since childhood. My heartfelt condolences to his family. He seemed to have lived a full and wonderful life. God bless.