William Owen Hopkins, M.D.

He was less than one month away from his 91st birthday. He stood as a man amongst men and leaves a lasting example for countless family and friends. He became many things throughout his life. First and foremost, he was a father, husband, friend, surgeon, brother, creator, and an explorer. His legacy lives on through his surviving children David Ingle, John William, Barbara Ellen, Ryan Morgan, Joseph Graham, and William Spencer Hopkins. He is reunited in spirit with his late wife Sondra Joe, his son Matthew Thomas, brother Lenly Thomas Jr. & sisters Elizabeth Anne and Joanne Hopkins. We believe most importantly, he helped, healed and inspired literally thousands of people on his journey through life. His legacy will live long, long after he is gone.

William was better known as Bill or Doc Hopkins to his family, friends, and patients. He was the second son of Theresa Elizabeth and Lenley Thomas Hopkins. His father became a veterinarian with the FDA after his service with the US Army in WWI. His mother worked as an administrative assistant with the federal government and later she worked as Lenly’s secretary-office administrator. Bill’s childhood involved daily farm chores and school in a single room schoolhouse. The work ethic he developed as a child would eventually help define him as a man. After chores and school were complete, he and his brother were free to ride their horses across the countryside. He lovingly recounted memories of taking their horses to the Potomac River in the hot humid summers and swimming with his brother and friends in the cool blue waters.

Due to his father Lenly’s government position, they often transferred to new locations. At age eleven, his family moved to New Jersey. He remembered moving to a suburban New Jersey School with a country accent. He recounted being relentlessly teased about his accent and so practiced until he no longer spoke his rural slang. He always bragged that his older brother protected and stood up for him during this time. After Middle School they moved again to Kansas City where he completed high school in 1950 at Paseo High School. It was here that he met his first wife Mary Ellen.

After high school he attended UMKC under an academic scholarship. He would always speak of this time as a lost opportunity. After a year at UMKC playing too many card games and his scholarship in jeopardy he decided to enlist with his friends in the Army. During this time the conflict in Korea was just beginning to rise with its cold misery. Regardless, he enlisted because he believed it was the right thing to do. He served his time in Korea honorably with the second infantry division. He endured much hardship and witnessed the destruction of many of his young friends. He stormed and retook Pork Chop Hill for the final time and was subsequently decorated for bravery. After the war, he finished his military service with the 10th mountain division. Here he gained his love and mastery for skiing and the mountains. He was known as a world class skier and traveled the world pursuing his lifelong passion for the mountains. He would downhill ski well into late seventies and always reminisced fondly on his time with his children in the mountains.

After his honorable discharge from the Army, Bill got his life together. He always claimed that the war gave him a drive to do something important with his life. The impacts of witnessing the loss of so many young men left a mark and initiated his calling for life and healing. Initially he enrolled in civil engineering, but quickly became bored and uninspired by the course work. Always admiring his older brother Lenly Jr., he decided to follow in his footsteps. He applied and was accepted for medical school at the University of Missouri. During this time in Columbia, MO he married Mary Ellen Ingle and they gave life to four children David, Matthew, John and Barbara. This was a busy time for him of endless work with little financial return. This was all while caring for his young family of four children. His relentless work ethic and dedication persevered- he graduated from the University of Missouri medical school in 1959 at the very top of his class.

After medical school he completed a prestigious Orthopedic residency at UCLA and then completed a UCLA fellowship program for both hand and spine surgery. These are two of the most rigorous fellowship programs - it is extremely rare for a Fellow to complete both. He later claimed he picked spine surgery because it was one of the few disciplines that could directly save and help people in need. During his residency and fellowship program he simultaneously moonlighted at LA Emergency rooms to make ends meet. During this time, he was known for his larger-than-life parties where he would spear fish with his sons and throw epic beach cookouts with their subsequent catches.

After completing his fellowship. He began a long private practice that he dedicated the remainder of his life. Doc Hopkins saw patients in his practice until 9 months before passing- over 65 years of service to others. He literally saved the lives and limbs of countless people. One of his greatest points of pride remained that he had never hurt or diminished a patient in all of his years of practice. Patients knew and loved him because he would spend whatever time necessary to ensure the patient was not only effectively evaluated, but also connected with as another human being. Patients adored Doc Hopkins for his genuine care and concern but also the lifesaving or changing results they received from his surgeries. Doc Hopkins was well known for providing countless pro bono evaluations, consultations and surgeries to family, friends and strangers in need. This is a practice frowned upon by modern by practitioners, but adamantly supported by him as the right way of treating people. He wasn’t about running a business, he was about taking care of patients- period. He operated on patients until his voluntary retirement from surgery at 76 years of age.

During his time in LA, Bill met his second wife Olywn Francis Ross at Washington Hospital where she was the OR supervisor. After their marriage they moved from Santa Monica back to Kansas City. Here they gave life to a son Ryan. It was here in Kansas City that he would put down his final roots. During this time he was known for his love of horses and riding. Olywn and Bill shared this love for all things equestrian and spent their weekends with a horse trailer in tow.

In 1986 he married Sondra Joe Summers. Sondra was an Xray technician in his office after he and Olwyn separated. He always said that once he met Sondra, he never looked at other women the same. They built a life and a business and a family together. They gave life to Graham and Spencer Hopkins. Together they traveled the world and taught their children the importance of education always paired with adventure. Some of his best times were spent dancing with his wife on their many trips to Caribbean as his children played in the background. After retiring for surgery, Sondra and Bill created a new business providing Independent Medical Exams for patients involved in litigation. He also became a faculty member with MU orthopedic residency program. He helped teach new surgeons how to operate and see patients. He saw patients 5 days a week until he was no longer physically or mentally able to at 90 years of age. An astonishing feat of dedication and love helping others.

Doc Hopkins was so many things beyond these dates and accolades. He exuded perpetual movement, endless energy, and boundless curiosity. He never stopped working, healing, fixing, creating, helping and connecting with people. His friends and family knew him as an exceptional chef, world-class surgeon, avid entertainer, loyal lifelong friend, graceful fly fisherman, fine furniture wood worker, equestrian and polo player, biggest abalone you’ve ever seen diver, the best party thrower, graceful ballroom dancer, effortless downhill skier, voracious reader, somehow always looked cool, lifelong- always improving learner, never seemed to miss a shot hunter, motorcycle ride till ya die rider, all over the world explorer and whole hearted lover. At his core he was a man who loved deeply but also wanted to be loved. This was his greatest gift.

A visitation for William will be held Saturday, March 30, 2024 from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM. A formal memorial service will follow at 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM. All are welcome to attend his final graveside committal service from 12:00 PM - 12:30PM. The service will occur at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131.