John Hopkins

"So if anybody shaped my life, it was the Good Lord above." John C. Hopkins October 16, 1938 - October 18, 2022 John Crittenden Hopkins, age 84, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2022, with two of his children by his side. He and his somewhat crooked halo have joined his beloved wife, Joyce, with the Lord above. John is survived by his three children, Kimberly, Daniel, and Joseph, and their families, many friends, and his two dachshunds, Charlie and Rusty. An only child, John was born in Louisville, Kentucky, before moving to Washington, then Texas, where he lived for the rest of his life. A lifetime member of the NRA and TSRA, he grew up with a gun in his hands, enjoyed competitive shooting for many years, and also served as a referee. He got married young, but it didn't last. John was no quitter, however, so he kept searching until he found his beloved Joyce. John worked various jobs, from newspaper delivery boy and volunteer fireman, to serving in the U.S. Army. He spent decades at Southwestern Laboratories as a Senior Engineering Technician and Chief Inspector, worked for the Texas Highway Department, and ended his career working for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville. But for those who knew John, he could never sit idle, so he became a defensive driving instructor and substitute teacher after retirement. In his spare time, John achieved his dream of flight. For years he was told he could not become a pilot because of his blindness in one eye. Advancing as a pilot and obtaining various ratings only magnified his love for the skies. As a flight instructor, he instilled in his students the same joy and excitement he felt in the air. John also gave back to the community by serving as a Captain in the Civil Air Patrol. The day John hung up his wings was heartbreaking, but he was fortunate to have over thirty years and 1700 hours of a dream most said was impossible. John joked that in retirement, his favorite pastime was being lazy, though he loved to watch movies and recount the plots to family and friends. He and Joyce also rescued and raised dachshunds, as many as seven at one time. He was also an avid reader of many diverse genres, enjoying his daily newspaper, monthly car and gun magazines, and his book subscriptions, which he donated to a local assisted living facility after reading them. John never met a stranger, and he was full of wisdom and love for his family, dogs, and friends. Join us for a celebration of John's impactful life on Saturday, November 19 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, 10129 FM 1097, Willis, TX. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make donations in John's memory to the Diamond Dachshund Rescue of Texas (https://www.ddrtx.org/info/donate) or Central Texas Dachshund Rescue (https://www.ctdr.org/). You also are invited to share stories about John at www.shmfh.com.