Robert E. Hopkins

Robert Eugene Hopkins, residing in Austin Texas, passed on Friday, July 27, 2012 after several months of complications resulting from a stroke. He was born in Sturgis Michigan, was the son of Dale and Helen Hopkins.

Robert graduated from high school and immediately enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. He had a distinguished Air Force career that included tours of duty at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa Japan, Kunsan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and RAF Mildenhall and RAF Lakenheath United Kingdom. After serving 24 years in the Air Force, he reached the rank of Master Sergeant and his final duty assignment was Air Force Fuels Superintendent. His most memorable duty assignment was supporting the mission’s involving the reconnaissance aircraft SR-71, famously known as the Blackbird. After a short period from his initial Air Force “retirement”, he became employed with the United States Postal Service, and retired after 26 years of dedicated service.

He is predeceased by his mother and father and survived by his wife, Gloria Hopkins; brother and sister, Arthur Hopkins and Cindy Plucinski of Sturgis Michigan; his son, James Hopkins of Hartford Connecticut; his daughter, Desiree Garcia, also a resident in Austin Texas with her three children. All of the members of his family already miss him dearly, and choose to remember the better times in Robert’s life where there was much joy and humor. Robert was an avid gardener and stamp collector, and a good friend to all who knew him. He will be sorely missed, but remembered as a blessing.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home located at 6300 W. William Cannon Drive.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, August 2, 2012 in the Chapel of Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. C. Earle Lewis officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.