Welcome to the memorial page for
Harry Hopkins
January 21, 1931 ~ July 10, 2014 (age 83) 83 Years OldShare Tribute:
Harry Henry Hopkins was born on January 21, 1931 to Clarence Isaac “Jack” Hopkins and Martha Luvicie “Vicie” Hopkins at Dibble, OK. God sent His Angel to bring Harry to his eternal home. He passed away on July 10, 2014. Harry graduated from Dibble High School as President of his class in 1948. Harry was church pianist at the Free Will Baptist church in Dibble, OK, playing for revivals, weddings, and funerals during his high school years. He married Nina Brightwell, the love of his life since Jr. High School , on June 10 1948. The next year Harry was recruited by Magnolia Oil Company in Abeline, TX., where he and Nina lived for 4 ½ years. Their son, Neil, was born there. They moved back to Oklahoma for Harry to complete his education. While Harry was at OU, Carl Jack and Anita were born. Harry worked for Harper Oil for a few years before joining Norman Municipal Hospital, now Norman Regional Hospital. During this time Harry earned a degree in Hospital Administration from Oklahoma Baptist University. Their fourth child, Paul David, was born during his early years at the hospital.
Harry served two terms as President of Oklahoma Hospital Financial Managers Association. Two Terms as President of the Hospital Public Relations committee for the state of Oklahoma. Harry was appointed by Gov. George Nigh in 1970 to the Selective Service State Board of Oklahoma where he served for 10 years. Harry served as general chairman of the American Red Cross in Norman for one year. Harry served on the Norman Board of Public Safety for two terms as president for two years. He was a member of the board of directors fo the American Heart Association and also serving on the board of directors the American Cancer Society of Cleveland County as Chairman for one term. From the hospital, where he worked for Dick Luttrell for 25 years, Harry took a job as Administrator of Medicenter-Health South Rehabilitation Hospital for several years until the Symcox Family offered Harry to join them as the Auditor of City National Bank and First Fidelity Bank. He worked for three generations of the family, Raymond, Don and Phil, and Lee. He always talked about their being men of high integrity.
Harry was always active in his children’s schools and served as PTA president of Adams and Mckinley Schools. Harry and Nina opened a Hallmark Store, “Nina’s Hallmark”. After 15 years they retired for the last and final time and this truly was a time for grandchildren and family. Harry joined First Baptist Church of Norman on May 30, 1954. During these wonderful years Harry served as chair of deacons, Sunday School Superintendent, Training Union Director, Chairman of the personnel committee, and member of most committees. Harry was the only member of the First Baptist Church who has served on three Pastor Search Committees. Two special committees that Harry served on at the FBC were Vision Community, appointed by Dr. Greg Hunt and the Administrative Leadership team, consisting of four men who were chairman of deacons, personnel, and trustees, plus a staff representative. Duties were to act in the absence of the pastor. Our Pastor had resigned and a new one was not called for several months. The committee was active for 2 years. He always enjoyed his time working in the church where he lived. He and Nina and their four children were very faithful in attendance at all the services.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one beloved grandson, Nathan Neal; brothers, Elzie and Carl Hopkins; three sisters, Jane Simpson, Helen York and Lois Robinson. He is survived by his wife, Nina; daughter, Anita Hopkins Neal and her husband Jay; sons, Neil and his wife Ann, Carl and his wife Karee, Paul and his wife Kellie; grandchildren, Cooper Hopkins, Carson Hopkins, Foster Hopkins, Holly Hopkins Erickson and her husband Beau, Hunter Hopkins and his wife Emily, Hays Hopkins, Carl Jack Hopkins, Jr. and his wife Beth, Jennifer Neal Vaughn and her husband Roger, Greg Hopkins and his wife Laura, Julie Hopkins Bennett and her husband Chris, Mason Hopkins and his wife Christine and twenty-one great grandchildren and another great grandchild due in December. Many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends who meant so much to him.
Harry loved his family and loved his “Nina” with a passion and treasured the many years they had together. He loved his children and grandchildren and the new generation of great grandchildren. He was always a Daddy and ready for giving advice and a dollar, being generous beyond measure. He wanted to set an example of what a leader of a family should be. Even more than family, he loved his Lord and prayed that his family would stay close to God in preparation of that grand and glorious reunion with Jesus.
Visitation will be held 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday, July 13 and 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday, July 14 with family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 14 at Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman. Services will begin at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 15, at First Baptist Church, 211 W. Comanche Street, Norman, OK 73069. Interment will follow in the Blanchard Cemetery, Blanchard, OK.
In honoring Harry’s request for no flowers, memorial donations should be made to the First Baptist Church Falls Creek Fund.
Arrangements for Harry and his family have been placed in the care of the Vice Family at Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman, Oklahoma. Online condolences may be shared at www.HavenbrookFuneralHome.com.
Harry served two terms as President of Oklahoma Hospital Financial Managers Association. Two Terms as President of the Hospital Public Relations committee for the state of Oklahoma. Harry was appointed by Gov. George Nigh in 1970 to the Selective Service State Board of Oklahoma where he served for 10 years. Harry served as general chairman of the American Red Cross in Norman for one year. Harry served on the Norman Board of Public Safety for two terms as president for two years. He was a member of the board of directors fo the American Heart Association and also serving on the board of directors the American Cancer Society of Cleveland County as Chairman for one term. From the hospital, where he worked for Dick Luttrell for 25 years, Harry took a job as Administrator of Medicenter-Health South Rehabilitation Hospital for several years until the Symcox Family offered Harry to join them as the Auditor of City National Bank and First Fidelity Bank. He worked for three generations of the family, Raymond, Don and Phil, and Lee. He always talked about their being men of high integrity.
Harry was always active in his children’s schools and served as PTA president of Adams and Mckinley Schools. Harry and Nina opened a Hallmark Store, “Nina’s Hallmark”. After 15 years they retired for the last and final time and this truly was a time for grandchildren and family. Harry joined First Baptist Church of Norman on May 30, 1954. During these wonderful years Harry served as chair of deacons, Sunday School Superintendent, Training Union Director, Chairman of the personnel committee, and member of most committees. Harry was the only member of the First Baptist Church who has served on three Pastor Search Committees. Two special committees that Harry served on at the FBC were Vision Community, appointed by Dr. Greg Hunt and the Administrative Leadership team, consisting of four men who were chairman of deacons, personnel, and trustees, plus a staff representative. Duties were to act in the absence of the pastor. Our Pastor had resigned and a new one was not called for several months. The committee was active for 2 years. He always enjoyed his time working in the church where he lived. He and Nina and their four children were very faithful in attendance at all the services.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one beloved grandson, Nathan Neal; brothers, Elzie and Carl Hopkins; three sisters, Jane Simpson, Helen York and Lois Robinson. He is survived by his wife, Nina; daughter, Anita Hopkins Neal and her husband Jay; sons, Neil and his wife Ann, Carl and his wife Karee, Paul and his wife Kellie; grandchildren, Cooper Hopkins, Carson Hopkins, Foster Hopkins, Holly Hopkins Erickson and her husband Beau, Hunter Hopkins and his wife Emily, Hays Hopkins, Carl Jack Hopkins, Jr. and his wife Beth, Jennifer Neal Vaughn and her husband Roger, Greg Hopkins and his wife Laura, Julie Hopkins Bennett and her husband Chris, Mason Hopkins and his wife Christine and twenty-one great grandchildren and another great grandchild due in December. Many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends who meant so much to him.
Harry loved his family and loved his “Nina” with a passion and treasured the many years they had together. He loved his children and grandchildren and the new generation of great grandchildren. He was always a Daddy and ready for giving advice and a dollar, being generous beyond measure. He wanted to set an example of what a leader of a family should be. Even more than family, he loved his Lord and prayed that his family would stay close to God in preparation of that grand and glorious reunion with Jesus.
Visitation will be held 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m., Sunday, July 13 and 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday, July 14 with family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 14 at Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman. Services will begin at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 15, at First Baptist Church, 211 W. Comanche Street, Norman, OK 73069. Interment will follow in the Blanchard Cemetery, Blanchard, OK.
In honoring Harry’s request for no flowers, memorial donations should be made to the First Baptist Church Falls Creek Fund.
Arrangements for Harry and his family have been placed in the care of the Vice Family at Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman, Oklahoma. Online condolences may be shared at www.HavenbrookFuneralHome.com.
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