Charles Hollis Hopkins, Sr.

Charles H. Hopkins, Sr., age 91, of Temple, Texas passed away on Monday, October 29, at a local care center. He was born on March 24, 1927 in Gholson, Texas, the son of Willie D. and Bernice Chatham Hopkins. On January 26, 1949 Charles was married to Mary Ann Walla in Waco.A memorial visitation will take place on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 6:30 PM at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home followed by a Rosary at 7:00 PM. A memorial mass will take place on Friday, November 9, 2018 at 12 noon at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in Temple.A graveside service with military honors will take place on Friday, November 16, 2018 at 11:00 AM at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.Charles was a graduate of LaVega High School and enlisted in the United States Navy effective January 20, 1945. He served in the Pacific theatre until his honorable discharge in July 1946. He remained in the U.S. Naval Reserve and was called to active duty November 9, 1950 to serve in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged from active service on August 28, 1952 and remained in the Naval Reserve for a total of 22 years. After his military service, Charles was employed by the Veteran’s Administration Hospital System in various positions and locations throughout Texas, Louisiana, Georgia and Illinois retiring as Chief of Building Management from the Olin L. Teague Veteran’s Hospital in Temple, Texas in 1982. Charles and Mary Ann were long-standing members of St. Luke’s Catholic Church. He became a member of Council # 7197 of the Knights of Columbus on October 1, 1981, and later, a 4th degree charter member of Council # 3488, providing many hours of charitable service for the community. Charles and Mary Ann enjoyed rounds of golf at various golf courses in the Temple area, gardening and travel. They were blessed with numerous, short visits from their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.Charles is survived by his children; Charles Hopkins, Jr. and wife Linda of Austin, Suzie Holcomb of Ft. Worth, Terry Hopkins and husband Victor Corpuz of Dallas, Bill Hopkins and wife Stephanie of Alvin, David Hopkins of Austin and Carol Prater of Temple; grandchildren: Chris Hopkins and wife Nicole, Mary Katherine Hopkins, Amanda Doering and husband Zach, Jennifer Patel and husband Vivek, Stephen Holcomb, Laura Holcomb, Stefano Corpuz, John Hopkins, Dustin Prater and wife Kristen, Jeffrey Prater, and great-grandchildren Jessie, Aubrey, Luke, Isaac, Skylar, Ethan, Alex, Brooks, and Zayn.He is also survived by a sister, Opal Erlanson and her husband Tommy of Waco. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann, his parents, brother Willie D. Hopkins, Jr., sister Francis Hopkins, sister Edna Sandlin, and brother Kenneth Hopkins.