Bob O. Hopkins

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Bob O. Hopkins, age 76, of Hannon, Mo. went to be with his Savior on Oct. 3, 2009.

Bobby Oma Hopkins was born Nov. 22, 1932, in Beaman, Mo., to Oma Clanton and Chessie (Phillips) Hopkins. He was reared in the Sedalia, Mo., area and left home at the age of 14 and joined the U.S. Army, where he served in Japan and South Korea for almost two years. He was a talented musician, playing drums in his uncle Dickie Phillips Combo touring the United States, and played with Little Jimmy Dickens, Jim Reeves, and Rusty Draper, plus being with a Western Swing band in Sedalia. He then was in law enforcement in the Sedalia, Warrensburg and Ft. Leonard Wood area. He was in construction, trucking and heavy equipment work most of his later life, and was saved, baptized and joined the Hannon Free Will Baptist Church in May, 1975. He and his wife, Barb recorded a gospel album in Nashville, Tenn., in 1985 and were very actively involved in spreading the gospel through song for many years.

He married Barbara (Weaver) on Feb. 12, 1969 in Fort Scott, Kan.

Survivors include his wife Barb of 40 years, of their home in Hannon; his three children, Mike Hopkins of Pleasant Hill, Mo., Pat Hopkins of Jefferson City, Mo., and Cathy Wagner and husband Tony of Sedalia Mo.; five stepchildren, Robert Lee Williams, of Liberal Mo., Rose Yoos and husband William of Centerton, Ark., Charles Williams, U.S. Air Force, Lonnie McThompson and wife Teri of Pittsburg, Kan., and Lyle McThompson and wife Lisa of Liberal, Mo; eight grandchildren, Ryan Hopkins, Carrie Hopkins, Kim Broadaway, Niki Hopkins, Chad Hopkins, Emma Hopkins, Tanya Meyer and Frankie Vanderpool; five great-grandchildren, Paige, Curtis, Emma, Caleb and Hanah of his own, and Barb's eight granddaughters, Tabitha Beaman, Hannah Montee, Esther Williams, Erika David, Katrina and Kayla Yoos, Mallory and Faith McThompson. He is also survived by a brother, Jerry Hopkins of Platte City, Mo.

The family will receive friends from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m., Friday, at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, at the Hannon Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. George Naumann officiating. Burial will be in Worsley Cemetery in Vernon County, Mo.

Pallbearers will be: Mike Hopkins, Cathy Hopkins Wagner (standing in for brother Patrick Hopkins), Jerry Hopkins, Lonnie McThompson, Lyle McThompson and Ryan Hopkins.

Honorary pallbearers will be: Bob Garrett, Blue Dickey, Rick Fast, Francis Dickey, Gary Charlton and Tom Crockett.

The family suggests memorials to the Gideons to further spread the gospel throughout the world in Bob's memory.