PEABODY, MA, AND BANGOR - SMSgt Richard 'Hoppy' Hopkins, 10-17-1925 "You figure my age" as Hoppy would say, beloved husband of Hazel (Irving) Hopkins, died peacefully at his home on Saturday April 8, 2017, while in the comforting presence of his family.
Born in Bangor, ME, he was the son of the late Carleton L. and Marie (Jordan) Hopkins. He grew up in Bangor and graduated from Bangor High School.
SMSgt Hopkins enlisted in the United States Navy in 1942. He was stationed on the USS Boston (CA-69), a heavy cruiser and the sixth ship in the navy to be named for Boston. He experienced all the Pacific battles during World War II.
Upon discharge from the Navy, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force for over 23 years of service, including the Vietnam War, retiring with the rank of Senior Master Sargeant.
After his military service, he returned to his home town of Bangor. He worked as Deputy Sheriff for the Penobscot County Sherriff's Department alongside Otis LaBree. He held a position later as Chief of Operations with the Federal Protective Services in Boston. Lastly, he was a Branch Manager with the Federal Aviation Administration (F.A.A.) in Burlington, MA, retiring in 1994.
Hoppy enjoyed traveling around the world, and spending time at his camp in Bucksport, ME. He also was passionately devoted to his large family, many friends, comrades at the American Legion, Augustus P. Gardner Post 227 of Middleton, and he liked a good party!
He is survived by his wife Hazel (Irving) Hopkins of Peabody, MA, with whom he shared 72 years of marriage; a daughter Tammy Moore and her husband James of Groveland; two sons, Michael Hopkins and his wife Heather of Bangor, ME, and John Hopkins and his wife Holli of Montana; eight grandchildren, Ashleigh Behisy of Newton, NH, Daniel Moore of Watertown, Lindsey van Gennep of Raymond, NH, Sarah Hopkins and Kate Hopkins both of Montana, Jake, Nick, and Sophy Hopkins of Bangor; three great-grandchildren, Aden, Lyla, and Wyatt; one sister Rosemary Parks of Ipswich, and many nieces and nephews. He was brother of the late Edward Hopkins who died in WWII, twin Reginald, Carleton, John, Galen, Winnie Bigelow, Helen Crocker, Marie Harris, Dorothy Cameron, Patricia Durham, Lucille Hopkins, Jeanette Hunt, and Catherine Hopkins.
Relatives and friends are kindly invited to gather for a visitation from 9:30-10:30 a.m., Wednesday, April 19, 2017, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center Street, Bangor, followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. John's Catholic Church, 207 York Street, Bangor, at 11 a.m. Interment with Military Honors will be at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Bangor. He was a WWll vet honoree of Operation Troop Support in Danvers, MA, last fall. Memorial donations may be made to the American Legion, Augustus Gardner Post 227, 69 River St., Middleton, MA 01949 and/or Operation Troop Support, 16 Trinity Street, Danvers, MA 01923. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.BrookingsSmith.com