Patricia Louise Vance Hopping, 93, passed away in Fullerton, California on January 22, 2024 with her husband Richard by her side. Born on March 17, 1930, to parents Gladys Irene Hale Vance and Jesse Ross Vance, in Dayton, Ohio, she joined 4 older sisters. Being born on St Patrick's Day, she was given the name Patricia.
Her life was characterized by an abundance of commitment, leadership, service, hospitality, and generosity. Her noteworthy accomplishments and cherished memories leave a legacy for her family and for all who had the privilege to know her.
Patricia, known as Pat, attended local schools in Dayton, graduated in 1948 with highest honors from Stivers High School in the top 5 of her class, and placed exceptionally high in Ohio in mathematics. She attended Bowling Green State University, receiving a teaching certificate in elementary education. She also attended Wright State University in Dayton. In 1951, she married Richard Lee Hopping and moved to Memphis, Tennessee where her husband completed his degree in Optometry and she became active in the college spouse association. During the beginning years of her husband’s practice in Dayton, Ohio, Pat assisted in the office and began her passion of serving her community at local and state levels.
Even with her commitments, she was foremost a dedicated mother to Ronald, Debra, and Jerrold and they have fond memories of her love and devotion. She became president of her children’s PTA, and was involved in Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. As a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, she taught Sunday School, helped with children’s choirs, and was a member of the Women’s Association and the Women’s Guild.
Pat devoted herself to educational advancement for the city and was active on the Board of Directors for the Dayton Council on World Affairs. She led efforts to create A Taste Around the World Cookbook with hundreds of recipes from ambassadors and embassies. She worked with high schools in the area to increase students’ knowledge of different cultures and worked to stage the first International Festival, which became an annual event with thousands attending. She twice chaired the “World of Flair” fashion show for hundreds of attendees to raise money to promote understanding among the nations through international visitors.
She knew the importance of being knowledgeable about the political process and the candidates for office. She became active in the League of Women Voters of the Greater Dayton area, serving on the Board of Directors as treasurer and then President. She was a dedicated worker for voter education, organizing candidate forums and voter service projects. She arranged for the two Dayton newspapers to print complete candidate information prepared by the League. She fully practiced the League’s founding creed of “We will not vote as women but as American citizens.”
Pat’s service to the Dayton community was immense. She was the Founder President of the Dayton View Opti-Mrs. Club and worked with the Salvation Army to promote “Friend of the Girl” campaign, providing experiences and camper scholarships for underserved girls. She served on the Dayton Volunteer Bureau and she co-chaired a successful Dayton School Bond Levy.
Most of all, she worked tirelessly to support her husband’s profession of Optometry. She served on the Board of Directors and as President of the Auxiliary to the Miami Valley Society of Optometrists. Later, she served on the Board of Directors for the Auxiliary to Ohio Optometric Association, and again as President. She was a speaker at The Ohio State University to spouses on their future role in the community. She was a Delegate to the first Drivers Licensing Colloquium at Michigan State University. She worked to promote traffic safety in Ohio and initiated the distribution of thousands of safety pamphlets to driver education classes throughout the country. She obtained grants to distribute the book Vision and Driving for the teachers. She organized vision screening programs through the Head Start program, assisted in the vision screenings, and participated in workshops held for parents of handicapped children.
Pat was an active member of the American Foundation for Vision Awareness, chairing several national committees. Continuing to promote driver education, she was appointed to the Governor’s Committee on Traffic Safety. She was a crusader for an eye examination as a requirement before receiving a driver’s license. Later, Pat received the Foundation’s highest national tribute, the Distinguished Appreciation Award, for her dedicated leadership in Ohio and California.
In 1971, husband Richard became President of the American Optometric Association and Pat served as first lady with charm, grace, and beauty. Their years of travel increased and they enjoyed many trips nationally and internationally, promoting vision awareness and friendship within the optometric world community. Later in 1981, Pat and Richard were asked by the US State Department to lead a People to People delegation of Optometrists and spouses to travel throughout mainland China and Japan for a month of lectures and eye care.
In 1973, Richard was asked to become President of the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO) in Fullerton, California. Together, they moved across the country and Pat continued serving the profession, the college, and the community with her wisdom, organizational skills, and warm hospitality.
For 24 years, Pat was the advisor to the Student Spouse Association as a mentor and friend to many young wives. She demonstrated the positive impact a spouse can have through active involvement and leadership. Pat served as a legislative Keyperson for the California Optometric Council and enjoyed introducing young people to the legislative processes and meeting their legislators. Each year, she obtained funding for officers to travel with her to the California Optometric Association Keyperson Day as she worked to instill an understanding and pride in our system of government.
Always gracious, Pat organized and hosted many events, large and small, at their home. She welcomed college faculty, students, and staff as well as national and international leaders.
As a member of the philanthropic Fullerton Assistance League, she helped establish a vision screening project in the Fullerton public and private schools. She was a hands-on volunteer in their Bargain Box thrift store. She later served as President and on a national committee. Pat wrote guidelines for the Assistance League to provide vision screening in cooperation with SCCO and she was instrumental in arranging for the Assistance League to provide psychological counseling for the YMCA elderly programs.
Seeing yet other needs in her community, Pat arranged special education programs for troubled youth through the Philharmonic Society and she co-chaired a fundraiser for Retinitis Pigmentosa International for research and low vision aids for the visually handicapped.
Appointed by the City of Fullerton to the Fullerton Arboretum Commission, Pat served as a Commissioner for 12 years, including 3 years as President. Not only has the Fullerton Arboretum become a beautiful and peaceful oasis for the community, it also provides educational programs for thousands of schoolchildren. When the Arboretum lost its part-time director, Pat worked diligently to recruit a full-time director and to raise funds for building an educational facility. During her presidency, the Arboretum secured a half-million-dollar grant and made significant progress in reaching its goals. The Friends of the Fullerton Arboretum bestowed the Golden Oak Award on Pat for her dedicated service to the community and her years of support.
Believing a community should have access to good health care, Pat was active in the Damas de Caridad organization to provide financial support and service to St. Jude Medical Center, serving as a Board Member for many years and President for two terms. Twice she was chosen to be a “Headdress Mannequin” for their Bal Masque Gala. In 1999, she received the St. Jude Medical President’s Commendation.
Because of her desire to continue her education, at age 65 she enrolled in Pacific Christian College and earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Organizational Management. The students and professors loved to hear stories of the many experiences in the organizations she had led.
Recognizing her effective altruism, she was subsequently named Humanitarian of the Year by the North Orange County Family YMCA, she received the California State University Fullerton Community Recognition Award, and was named Woman of the Year by the Fullerton Chamber of Commerce
Pat was the first non-Optometrist to receive the Distinguished Service Award from SCCO. Both Pat and Richard were honored as they retired from SCCO in 1997, The Academic Building was named after Richard, and the beautiful gathering space in the center of campus was named The Patricia Hopping Commons. It is a fitting tribute to her dedication, her love for the students and the school, and her appreciation of the beauty of gardens. She envisioned it to be a vibrant place for fellowship and gathering.
She delighted in her 3 children, their spouses, and her 9 grandchildren. She spent time planning special vacations and activities for all of them and took special care in selecting their gifts, each grandchild always receiving a book and special ornament every Christmas. She encouraged each child to be all that they could be, to read books, to have good manners, and to reach their potential. She loved each of them and attended all of their graduations and weddings. She was also blessed with 17 great-grandchildren. Her family cherishes her memory and will deeply miss her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother Jesse Ross Vance, Jr., her 4 sisters: Helen Ruth Vance Hild, Mary Susan Vance Hockett, Alice Mae Vance Davis, and June Elaine Vance Anderson, their husbands, several nieces and nephews. She is survived by her husband of 72 years Richard Lee Hopping O.D., her 3 children: Ronald Lee Hopping, O.D. (Desiree, O.D.), Debra Lynn Hopping Davis (Tom), and Jerrold Alan Hopping (Rennie), 9 grandchildren (Reed Hopping O.D., Grant Hopping M.D., Brett Davis, Tricia Davis Dunton, Julie Davis Jenkins, Lauren Davis Kirk, Major Tyler Hopping, Austin Hopping, and Morgan Hopping), 17 great-grandchildren, niece Sharon Hockett Fitzharris (Joe) and family, nephew Donald (Corky) Vance Davis and family.
Services will be held 2:00 PM Saturday, February 3, 2024 at McAulay & Wallace Mortuary, Fullerton, California. There will be a private interment earlier that day.
If so inclined, gifts may be made in her memory to the Fullerton Arboretum, the Southern California College of Optometry MBKU, the Fullerton Assistance League, or a charity of your choice.
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