HOPKINS, Sr., Robert C.
What a wonderful life this gentleman had for the past 96 years. He lived life to the fullest. He was born on May 23, 1917, in Clymer, NY and died on May 29, 2013.
Bob was married to Anne for 69 years when she passed in 2006. He is survived by his four children, Robert C. Hopkins, Jr., (Helen) of Orangevale CA; James M. Hopkins, Sr. of Medford OR; Edith M. Sue Hill (Lee) of Orangevale CA and Marianne Paul of San Diego CA, along with 10 of his grandchildren (one predeceased him, Diana Dent, in 2011); and many great and great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his special lady love, Madeleine Barrett.
In addition to his family, his two favorite things in life were his move to Carmichael, CA in 1951 from Corry, PA, and restoring and driving old cars. He told people that he had broken his snow shovel and decided it was time to move west where it was much warmer, and one doesn't have to shovel rain.
Old cars have been a passion of his since he was a teenager. He joined the Horseless Carriage Club of America (HCCA) in 1956 as well as the Northern California Regional Group of the HCCA. He was a life member of both organizations. He was an officer and board member of the Nor Cal club for many years. He was also a member of Packard's International. The old car hobby provided the Hopkins family with wonderful friends around the world.
Some of the unique experiences Bob had driving old cars was the time he raced two other old cars on the Indy 500 racetrack in July 1974. He raced his 1914 Mitchell Speedster against a 1909 EMF and a 1909 Pierce Arrow. He won the race and earned the name 'Leadfoot.' Leadfoot Hopkins also raced the Speedster against an airplane at the Sacramento County Fair at the old fairgrounds. In addition, he was stopped many times driving his 1935 and 1940 Packards by the highway patrol while driving across country. The officers had to stop him (those that could catch him) to see what the heck was under the hoods of those cars. They could not believe they were stock engines. He was given warnings to slow down.
Bob worked at McClellan Air Force Base as a precision instrument machinist until his retirement in 1972. This profession carried into the old car hobby as whenever he needed a part for one of his old cars, he could take a chunk of iron into his garage and make it on his vintage metal lathe.
Bob served our country in WW II and earned a Purple Heart for his bravery. We are grateful to him for his service.
Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 20, 2013 at the Divine Savior Catholic Church, 9079 Greenback Lane, Orangevale CA. Inurnment will follow at the Fair Oaks Cemetery.
The family expresses their sincere appreciation to Dr. Thomas Chan of Kaiser Hospital, the caregivers at Chateau Claire in Orangevale and Vitas Hospice for their loving care. They all worked above and beyond the call of duty. They are our heroes.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his favorite old car club: NCRG-HCCA, c/o Jan Charpier, Treasurer, 9168 Ivy League Circle, Orangevale, CA 95662 or to a charity of your choice .
Published in The Sacramento Bee on June 4, 2013
What a wonderful life this gentleman had for the past 96 years. He lived life to the fullest. He was born on May 23, 1917, in Clymer, NY and died on May 29, 2013.
Bob was married to Anne for 69 years when she passed in 2006. He is survived by his four children, Robert C. Hopkins, Jr., (Helen) of Orangevale CA; James M. Hopkins, Sr. of Medford OR; Edith M. Sue Hill (Lee) of Orangevale CA and Marianne Paul of San Diego CA, along with 10 of his grandchildren (one predeceased him, Diana Dent, in 2011); and many great and great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his special lady love, Madeleine Barrett.
In addition to his family, his two favorite things in life were his move to Carmichael, CA in 1951 from Corry, PA, and restoring and driving old cars. He told people that he had broken his snow shovel and decided it was time to move west where it was much warmer, and one doesn't have to shovel rain.
Old cars have been a passion of his since he was a teenager. He joined the Horseless Carriage Club of America (HCCA) in 1956 as well as the Northern California Regional Group of the HCCA. He was a life member of both organizations. He was an officer and board member of the Nor Cal club for many years. He was also a member of Packard's International. The old car hobby provided the Hopkins family with wonderful friends around the world.
Some of the unique experiences Bob had driving old cars was the time he raced two other old cars on the Indy 500 racetrack in July 1974. He raced his 1914 Mitchell Speedster against a 1909 EMF and a 1909 Pierce Arrow. He won the race and earned the name 'Leadfoot.' Leadfoot Hopkins also raced the Speedster against an airplane at the Sacramento County Fair at the old fairgrounds. In addition, he was stopped many times driving his 1935 and 1940 Packards by the highway patrol while driving across country. The officers had to stop him (those that could catch him) to see what the heck was under the hoods of those cars. They could not believe they were stock engines. He was given warnings to slow down.
Bob worked at McClellan Air Force Base as a precision instrument machinist until his retirement in 1972. This profession carried into the old car hobby as whenever he needed a part for one of his old cars, he could take a chunk of iron into his garage and make it on his vintage metal lathe.
Bob served our country in WW II and earned a Purple Heart for his bravery. We are grateful to him for his service.
Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 20, 2013 at the Divine Savior Catholic Church, 9079 Greenback Lane, Orangevale CA. Inurnment will follow at the Fair Oaks Cemetery.
The family expresses their sincere appreciation to Dr. Thomas Chan of Kaiser Hospital, the caregivers at Chateau Claire in Orangevale and Vitas Hospice for their loving care. They all worked above and beyond the call of duty. They are our heroes.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his favorite old car club: NCRG-HCCA, c/o Jan Charpier, Treasurer, 9168 Ivy League Circle, Orangevale, CA 95662 or to a charity of your choice .
Published in The Sacramento Bee on June 4, 2013
HOPKINS, Sr., Robert C.
What a wonderful life this gentleman had for the past 96 years. He lived life to the fullest. He was born on May 23, 1917, in Clymer, NY and died on May 29, 2013.
Bob was married to Anne for 69 years when she passed in 2006. He is survived by his four children, Robert C. Hopkins, Jr., (Helen) of Orangevale CA; James M. Hopkins, Sr. of Medford OR; Edith M. Sue Hill (Lee) of Orangevale CA and Marianne Paul of San Diego CA, along with 10 of his grandchildren (one predeceased him, Diana Dent, in 2011); and many great and great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his special lady love, Madeleine Barrett.
In addition to his family, his two favorite things in life were his move to Carmichael, CA in 1951 from Corry, PA, and restoring and driving old cars. He told people that he had broken his snow shovel and decided it was time to move west where it was much warmer, and one doesn't have to shovel rain.
Old cars have been a passion of his since he was a teenager. He joined the Horseless Carriage Club of America (HCCA) in 1956 as well as the Northern California Regional Group of the HCCA. He was a life member of both organizations. He was an officer and board member of the Nor Cal club for many years. He was also a member of Packard's International. The old car hobby provided the Hopkins family with wonderful friends around the world.
Some of the unique experiences Bob had driving old cars was the time he raced two other old cars on the Indy 500 racetrack in July 1974. He raced his 1914 Mitchell Speedster against a 1909 EMF and a 1909 Pierce Arrow. He won the race and earned the name 'Leadfoot.' Leadfoot Hopkins also raced the Speedster against an airplane at the Sacramento County Fair at the old fairgrounds. In addition, he was stopped many times driving his 1935 and 1940 Packards by the highway patrol while driving across country. The officers had to stop him (those that could catch him) to see what the heck was under the hoods of those cars. They could not believe they were stock engines. He was given warnings to slow down.
Bob worked at McClellan Air Force Base as a precision instrument machinist until his retirement in 1972. This profession carried into the old car hobby as whenever he needed a part for one of his old cars, he could take a chunk of iron into his garage and make it on his vintage metal lathe.
Bob served our country in WW II and earned a Purple Heart for his bravery. We are grateful to him for his service.
Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 20, 2013 at the Divine Savior Catholic Church, 9079 Greenback Lane, Orangevale CA. Inurnment will follow at the Fair Oaks Cemetery.
The family expresses their sincere appreciation to Dr. Thomas Chan of Kaiser Hospital, the caregivers at Chateau Claire in Orangevale and Vitas Hospice for their loving care. They all worked above and beyond the call of duty. They are our heroes.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his favorite old car club: NCRG-HCCA, c/o Jan Charpier, Treasurer, 9168 Ivy League Circle, Orangevale, CA 95662 or to a charity of your choice .
Published in The Sacramento Bee on June 4, 2013
What a wonderful life this gentleman had for the past 96 years. He lived life to the fullest. He was born on May 23, 1917, in Clymer, NY and died on May 29, 2013.
Bob was married to Anne for 69 years when she passed in 2006. He is survived by his four children, Robert C. Hopkins, Jr., (Helen) of Orangevale CA; James M. Hopkins, Sr. of Medford OR; Edith M. Sue Hill (Lee) of Orangevale CA and Marianne Paul of San Diego CA, along with 10 of his grandchildren (one predeceased him, Diana Dent, in 2011); and many great and great-great grandchildren. He is also survived by his special lady love, Madeleine Barrett.
In addition to his family, his two favorite things in life were his move to Carmichael, CA in 1951 from Corry, PA, and restoring and driving old cars. He told people that he had broken his snow shovel and decided it was time to move west where it was much warmer, and one doesn't have to shovel rain.
Old cars have been a passion of his since he was a teenager. He joined the Horseless Carriage Club of America (HCCA) in 1956 as well as the Northern California Regional Group of the HCCA. He was a life member of both organizations. He was an officer and board member of the Nor Cal club for many years. He was also a member of Packard's International. The old car hobby provided the Hopkins family with wonderful friends around the world.
Some of the unique experiences Bob had driving old cars was the time he raced two other old cars on the Indy 500 racetrack in July 1974. He raced his 1914 Mitchell Speedster against a 1909 EMF and a 1909 Pierce Arrow. He won the race and earned the name 'Leadfoot.' Leadfoot Hopkins also raced the Speedster against an airplane at the Sacramento County Fair at the old fairgrounds. In addition, he was stopped many times driving his 1935 and 1940 Packards by the highway patrol while driving across country. The officers had to stop him (those that could catch him) to see what the heck was under the hoods of those cars. They could not believe they were stock engines. He was given warnings to slow down.
Bob worked at McClellan Air Force Base as a precision instrument machinist until his retirement in 1972. This profession carried into the old car hobby as whenever he needed a part for one of his old cars, he could take a chunk of iron into his garage and make it on his vintage metal lathe.
Bob served our country in WW II and earned a Purple Heart for his bravery. We are grateful to him for his service.
Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 20, 2013 at the Divine Savior Catholic Church, 9079 Greenback Lane, Orangevale CA. Inurnment will follow at the Fair Oaks Cemetery.
The family expresses their sincere appreciation to Dr. Thomas Chan of Kaiser Hospital, the caregivers at Chateau Claire in Orangevale and Vitas Hospice for their loving care. They all worked above and beyond the call of duty. They are our heroes.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his favorite old car club: NCRG-HCCA, c/o Jan Charpier, Treasurer, 9168 Ivy League Circle, Orangevale, CA 95662 or to a charity of your choice .
Published in The Sacramento Bee on June 4, 2013
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