Obituary

Deacon Wil Toups died peacefully at home in Metairie on Sunday, July 23, 2023, in the grace of God and presence of his wife of 61 years, Sheryl Delapouyade Toups, after an intermittent five year battle with cancer.

Wil was born on February 7, 1940, to Wilbur A. Toups and Virginia LeBon Toups in New Orleans. Raised in Uptown, Wil graduated from Jesuit High School in 1957, where he played football and met his future brother-in-law and best friend, Perry Delapouyade. After they served together in the Marine Corps, Perry introduced Wil to his sister, Sheryl. They married in August 1962 and set up housekeeping in Metairie, where they welcomed two sons, Tony Toups (wife Mary Meyer) of New Orleans and Tim Toups (wife Katherine Rappe) of Baton Rouge. Wil and Sheryl became “Mere and Pere” starting in 1985 to Alyse Toups Mouledoux (husband Pierre) of Metairie, Stephen Toups (wife Caroline Miller) of Prairieville, and Peyton Toups of Brooklyn, New York.

In 2014, Wil and Sheryl became great grandparents with the arrival of the first of five great-grandsons: Pierre Mouledoux, Jr., Jean Paul Mouledoux, Miller Toups, Marc Mouledoux, and most recently, Hudson Toups.

Wil graduated from Tulane University in accounting and from the Graduate School of Banking at LSU while working as a commercial lender at the original Bank of New Orleans from 1959 to 1979. In that year, he formed Wil Toups Associates, Inc., a consulting firm to community banks and remained active until five years ago. Wil was a frequent and sought after lecturer on commercial lending and bank examinations at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, in addition to banks throughout the United States and Canada. Wil was also a commercial real estate broker and worked with the FDIC to resolve a number of failed banks around the country. Wil served on different bank boards, with his longest tenure being a director at Eureka Homestead in New Orleans until his death.

Wil's spiritual journey started at Jesuit High School where he took to heart St. Ignatius's injunction to be "a man for others". Wil attended his first retreat at the Manresa House of Retreats in Convent, Louisiana as a senior at Jesuit and continued to attend annual silent retreats for the rest of his life. He served Manresa as a Retreat Captain Board Member, and President.

Wil was called to the Permanent Diaconate and ordained as a Deacon by Archbishop Phillip Hannan in 1980 and served at various parishes throughout the Archdiocese, including St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in Metairie, St. Rita Uptown, St. Edward the Confessor Metairie, and most recently St. Francis of Assisi on State Street. Wil loved Christ and reflected His love in all that he did, particularly in his marriage preparation counseling, baptisms—including all his grandchildren and four of his great grandsons--- and preaching. He touched many lives by both his words and his actions.

Wil was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Dr. George Richard “Dick” Toups (wife Betty Jo Bel) of Baton Rouge, Terry Toups (husband Larue Delahoussaye, deceased), and Mary Toups; nephew Scott Toups; and in-laws, Irene Jenkins Delapouyade and Robert Delapouyade.

In addition to his family noted above, Wil is survived by his nieces Ashley Toups Raborn (husband Jeff Raborn) of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Mimi Delahoussaye Duplantis (husband Kevin Duplantis) of Knoxville, Tennessee, Shelly Delapouyade Beaubeouf (husband Al Beaubeouf) of Greenville, South Carolina, and Lynelle Delapouyade Brooks (husband Robert Brooks) of Flat Rock, North Carolina; and nephews Perret Delapouyade of New Orleans, Jay Delahoussaye (wife Jennifer) of Covington and Philippe Delahoussaye ( wife Michelle) of New Orleans.

Wil’s life will be celebrated on Friday, July 28, 2023 at St. Francis of Assisi Church at 631 State Street with public visitation at 10:00am and the Funeral Mass at 12:00pm. Archbishop Gregory Aymond will be the Principal Celebrant. After Mass, a reception will follow in the parish rectory. Burial will take place on Saturday, at St. Joseph’s Abbey Cemetery in Covington.

Wil lived for Christ, his family, his Church, and his community. A true man of God, Wil reflected Christ’s love uniquely to each person who knew him. That reflection lingers in the hearts of many.