Richard Lee Hopkins was born on July 8, 1941, at El Dorado, Kansas. He was the first born of Claude (Mike) and Julia Hopkins of rural DeGraff. Richard was the oldest and was followed by 11 younger siblings.

Richard graduated from Potwin High School in 1959, joined the Army in 1960 and served 3 years. He was stationed at Ft. Eustis, Virginia and found his time in the motor pool a satisfying experience. He loved the ocean at Newport News and found himself in good company with his fellows in arms.  He finished his time in the Army with an honorable discharge in 1963.

Soon after his Army discharge, Richard met Marie Hartzell one of his sister Sharon's nursing school classmates. The two seemed smitten with each other from the start. They married in 1964 and made their home in Hesston, Kansas, she, working in the nursing profession and he as a police officer. Heartbreakingly, their first child Michelle did not survive infancy, however she was followed by two joyfully healthy children Greg and Cheryl who attended the Hesston schools and graduated high school there. Greg served 10 years in the Coast Guard and passed away a few years ago. Cheryl has made a successful and enduring career with the Bank of America.

Richard retired from the Hesston police force as a Sargent in 1997 and later was employed at the Harvey County jail for a few years. He ended his working years having fun driving the van for the Santa Fe Railroad workers. He found waiting in the van between work sites a pleasant pastime and he enjoyed reading.

Richard was a loyal man. He loved many aspects of life and was never tempted or swayed to try alternates or change any of his favorites. One of Richard's great loves was country and western music. He knew the words to all the old songs and could still sing them and loved to hear others sing them. His brother Gene compiled his favorites and made a CD for him a few years ago and Richard played them regularly, he and his sister Nancy were singing old songs together the day before he passed away.

Another great love for Richard was driving, behind the wheel just driving around, frequenting lakes and rivers and homes of long-gone ancestors. He owned multiple types of used vehicles over many years, his last vehicle was a Ford F150, it was his first brand new vehicle. Richard also loved bicycles, he got his first bicycle for Christmas in boyhood, in his retirement years he rode his bicycle for exercise, up and down the road by his house, as time went by, he went to three wheelers and continued the two miles a day. Tractors and farm implements held a particular fascination for Richard, he read farm papers and went to auctions, got to know all the farm auctioneers.

Richard liked hats, he wore them from a tiny boy and was rarely seen without his head covered, most always a Stetson and cowboy boots on his feet. Dan Post socks were the best!

Late in his life he was a faithful member of the Potwin Coffee Club and met with his friends there each morning. He loved breakfast at Newell's Corner on Sundays.

Richard was diagnosed with FSH Muscular Dystrophy as an older adult. This type of MD progresses very slowly deteriorating the back and neck muscles, when in the elder years it becomes disabling. Richard spent his final few years in nursing homes, he became wheelchair bound so he still had wheels, but he missed driving.

Compounding the loss of our brother Richard, we lost Delbert only a few weeks ago. Also, a veteran, Delbert was wounded in the Vietnam war and will be buried at Ft. Leavenworth.

Richard is survived by his sisters Sharon Hopkins Walsh (Daniel) CA; Nita Hopkins Shaffer (Ron) of Moundridge, Nancy Hopkins, Kathy Hopkins, and Karen Hopkins. Brothers Gene Hopkins, Moundridge, Darrell Hopkins (Wanda) TX; Mike Hopkins (Jo) Rose Hill; Larry Hopkins, Potwin. Daughter Cheryl Hopkins Ericson (Adam), TN. Grandson Cameron Hopkins, Leavenworth.

Services are pending and will be announced by Affordable Cremations Plus, Wichita, Kansas.