William N. Hopkins' Obituary
William N. Hopkins (Bill), 91, of Lewes, born August 5, 1919, the son of Alden S. Hopkins, Sr. and Margaret (Reynolds) Hopkins, departed from his home to be with the Lord on Friday, October 29, 2010.
William was owner and operator of Green Acres Farm (Hopkins’ Dairy Farm) near Coolspring, from 1943 to the present. He took great pride in opening his farm annually for educational tours for Sussex County elementary school age children.
He graduated Lewes High School, Class of 1937; and earned a B.S. in Agricultural Education, University of Delaware, Class of 1942.
He was an organizer and the first secretary of the Delaware Farm Bureau; Director of Federal ASCS programs in Delaware under the Eisenhower Administration; Director of Land-O-Lakes Milk Cooperative and related milk marketing organizations for over 20 years.
William was highly recognized throughout his agricultural career with many awards. In 1983, he received the Sussex County Service Clubs, Service to Agriculture award; in 1984, George M. Worrilow Award, Service to Agriculture by Alumni of University of Delaware; in 1987, Delaware Holstein Association, Distinguished Service Award; in 1988, Sussex Vocational Technical Center - 18 years of loyal, dedicated service; in 1954, “Corn King” of Delaware producing 153 bushels per acre; in 1958, USDA Award of Merit; in 1990, designated Master Farmer of Delaware/Pennsylvania; and in 2010, received the 75 years certificate of membership in the Henlopen Grange.
In service to his community he was: President of Lewes Special and Cape Henlopen School Boards; appointed to the original Sussex Vo-Tech School Board; President of Lewes Rotary Club; and was a 65 year member of Jefferson Lodge #15 AF&AM.
William was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Dorothy Elizabeth (Cann) Hopkins in 2005. He was preceded in death by his parents, his grandson William Andrew Hopkins, great-grandson Ethan Max Williams, and his brother Alden S. Hopkins, Jr. He is survived by his two sisters, Grace H. Hitch and Gladys H. Phillips both of Seaford; brother, George W. Hopkins of Lewes; children: Rev. Diane E. Melson and her spouse Franklin, Jr., of Bridgeville, Rev. William C. Hopkins and his spouse Cathy, of Lewes, Nancy H. Lank and her spouse Christopher, of Milton, Walter C. Hopkins and his spouse Jenny, of Lewes, Dorothy H. Farmer and her spouse Richard, of Greensboro, GA, Patricia H. Dieringer and her spouse Donald, of NYC, NY, Dr. Brinton A. Hopkins and his spouse Kathy Ann, of Raleigh, NC, Joseph R. Hopkins and his spouse Wendi, of Putnam, CT, Marian H. Harvey and her spouse Todd, of Chesapeake City, MD, and Samuel R. Hopkins of Parrish, FL; 24 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Monday, November 8, 11 a.m., at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE. Friends and family may call at the funeral home on Sunday evening, November 7,2010 from 6-9 p.m., with Masonic Services at 7:30 p.m. Friends may also call one hour prior to services. Interment will be at Coolspring Presbyterian Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Delaware 4-H Foundation, William N. and Dorothy C. Hopkins Family Endowment, 113 Townsend Hall, 531 South College Avenue, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716-2210 and the Tunnel Cancer Center c/o Beebe Medical Foundation, 424 Savannah Road Lewes, DE 19958.
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