James Key Hopkins

Left Formation November 13, 2006

JAMES KEY HOPKINS, age 82, died November 13, 2006 in Houston, Texas. Survivors include stepson, Forest McNeir of New Orleans, LA; brother, Walter E. Hopkins, Jr of Pittsburgh, PA; nephews Stephen F. Hopkins of McKinney, TX and David Hopkins of Tenri, Nara, Japan; grand nephews Stephen M. Hopkins and Kishin Hopkins; and grand nieces, Hilary, Minori and Sukai Hopkins.

A native of Kingsville, Texas and US Army Air Corps veteran, Mr. Hopkins served as a B-17 top gunner in the 336Th Bombardment Squadron, 95th Bombardment Group, former POW in Germany, honorably discharged November 3, 1945.

After World War Two, Mr. Hopkins graduated from Rice University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. For most of his career, Mr. Hopkins worked as an Engineer for Cleco Air Tools, a Houston area manufacturer of pneumatic power tools. He also worked, during about a four-year hiatus from Cleco, for the Anderson- Greenwood Company and as a regional sales representative in Southeast Texas and South Louisiana for Morse Twist Drill of New Bedford, MA.

Mr. Hopkins was a member of South Main Baptist Church in Houston for most of his adult life. A private graveside service will be held in Kingsville, Texas.

Houston Chronicle (TX) - Thursday, November 16, 2006