Memorials › Francis Dean Hopkins
Francis Dean Hopkins
31 Dec 1942 – 14 Jul 2021
| Birth | 31 Dec 1942 |
| Death | 14 Jul 2021 |
| Added by | Donna Locklear Collier on 23 Dec 2023 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/262491599 |
Bio
Dean Hopkins December 31, 1942 - July 14, 2021 F. Dean Hopkins passed away peacefully in Trinity, Texas on July 14, 2021 with his family at his side, after a long battle with Alzheimer's. He was born December 31, 1942 in Ord, Nebraska to Archie and Viola (Philbrick) Hopkins. Dean is preceded in death by his parents, and his sister Bonnie. He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Dalla; son David and wife Liz; daughter Deana and husband Jay; brother Charles Hopkins and wife Phyllis; and special grandson Justin Grack. Dean grew up in Nebraska until his parents sold their farm. The family moved to Olathe, Colorado while Dean was in grade school. He attended school in Olathe and Montrose, Colorado, and graduated from Montrose High School. While in high school he met his future wife, Dalla. Dean was a hard worker. He started as a dishwasher at age 13 to buy his first motorcycle. This was followed by jobs in a five and dime store in high school and a uranium mine after graduation. He moved to California to find work, and then followed jobs to Arizona and Illinois before settling in Texas to work various jobs at the Shell Oil Refinery until retirement. Dean loved riding motorcycles, starting with his beloved Cushman scooter at age 13. He rode anything from dirt bikes to big touring bikes, and everything in-between. He was very mechanically minded and could build or fix almost anything. From boat trailers and backyard sheds to high performance auto engines, he focused a high level of attention to detail on every project that he tackled. Dean was always continuing his education and loved to learn new skills. He studied flying and bell helmet deep water diving. He was troop leader for an Explorer Scouts troop that David was in and they focused specifically on flying aircraft. He learned construction, pipefitting, boilermaking, and welding. He was a Process Operator at Shell Oil Deer Park, and later trained and was licensed to work on HVAC systems. He was truly a Jack of all Trades. He once designed and built from scratch a trawling rig for his 25-foot shrimp net so that he could shrimp in Galveston Bay. Not everyone does that. Dean's love of boats and fishing brought him and Dalla to Trinity, Texas upon retirement. He was also an avid RV-er. After test driving a GMC new back in 1974, he finally took the time to buy just the right one and joined the GMC motorhome community in his retirement. Dean was a faithful member and Deacon at Dorcas Wills Memorial Baptist Church in Trinity. He will be dearly missed by those he leaves behind to cherish his memory. MEMORIAL SERVICE Dorcas Wills Memorial Baptist Church WALLER-THORNTON FUNERAL HOME - TRINITY 203 San Jacinto St. Trinity, TX 75862
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