Henry C. Hopkins

HOPKINS, HENRY CLAY, 91, passed peacefully into the loving arms of our Lord on April 3, 2014. Henry’s family moved to Orlando when he was 2 years old. He was promptly enrolled by his mother into the Cradle Role at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando in 1924. He has been an active member there for the past 89 years serving as a greeter and usher for over 60 years, as well as, volunteered in a number of other ministry areas within the church. Henry’s service also included the U.S. Army. As a member of the 610th Engineer Light Equipment Company, he was part of the assault forces landing in Normandy on D-Day plus one where he also fought in the Battle of the Bulge. While growing up in Orlando, his parents, Harry Hopkins and Helen Lovejoy Hopkins purchased 15 acres on the north side of Lake Ivanhoe where they built and established their family home while developing and sub-dividing the property into residential lots which they sold. His parents remained in this location until their deaths in the ‘70’s. Henry spent many years in the citrus industry, serving as a grove supervisor for both Minute Maid and Coca Cola. After a career with them, he sold life insurance for New York Life and later brokered for other insurance companies. He also spent a number of years serving as a social worker for Orange County Public Schools. Most of all, he was a devoted husband, loving father, father-in-law, friend, brother, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He knew no strangers and had an uncanny ability to remember people even after just one introduction. He was a kind, giving and generous man who loved his family and friends, always willing to offer a story about old Orlando or whistle a familiar tune. Henry sang locally with the Rollins Young at Heart Chorus where he thoroughly enjoyed belting out a hymn or popular song from his past. He touched the lives of whomever he met. He married Frances Mildred Burckhalter on July 16, 1949 and they enjoyed a loving 59 plus year marriage adopting two children, Cecily Hopkins Bouch (Mike) and Harry “Hap” Hopkins II (Amy). Henry shared his love for ballroom dancing with Frances at the Winter Park Cotillion where they were members for many years. He is survived by his children; daughter-in-law, Jill Hopkins; 5 grandchildren, Gabriel (Jennifer), Ashley (Matt), Joshua (Brittnee), Adam (Courtney), and Brian; 3 nieces, Nancy, Ann, and Emily; 1 nephew, Bobby, and 8 great grandchildren. A celebration of life service will be held at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando located at 142 East Jackson Street on Saturday, April 12, 2014 at 3pm. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to either the United Methodist Children’s Home in Enterprise, FL or to the Friends of Music at the First United Methodist Church of Orlando.