The Villages – Bill Hopkins, 89, died Monday, January 11, 2021 at Cornerstone Hospice in Orlando, Florida.
Born in Columbus, Ohio where he met and married the love of his life, Georgia Mace and raised their son, Steven and daughter, Cheryl until they moved to Delaware in 1964. Bill became the Director of the Delaware State Parks and won much recognition and awards during his career including a historical marker as a “Pioneer of Preservation” where you can see his smiling face on the plaque placed in Cape Henlopen State Park. Upon his retirement, the Delaware Recreation & Parks Society established the William J. Hopkins Fellowship scholarship in his honor.
In 2006, he and Georgia moved to The Villages in Florida and he vowed never to leave. Sadly, his wife of 57 years passed in 2009 and no amount of coaxing could bring him back north because it was “too dang cold”. Bill was an usher at Community United Methodist Church and he also attended Lake Deaton United Methodist Church. He served as a Navy Reservist; was a Mason and on the Board of Regents at Oglebay Park in Wheeling, West Virginia.
Bill enjoyed helping people; fixing things; golfing with his Villages friends and traveling with his family. He especially liked camping with his grandkids and was always ready to be on the road again with his wife “Georgie”, traveling in their RV. Bill was truly a people person who never met a stranger. It would be impossible to list all the special people in his life as he was admired by many and loved by all. The family is grateful for his wonderful, caring friends and neighbors who assisted him in his final months, allowing him to live independently in his beloved Villages home.
Survivors include son, Steven (Judy) of Bear, DE; daughter, Cheryl Williams (Frank) of Smyrna, DE; granddaughter Kelli Pascoe (Brian) of Northeast Philadelphia, PA; grandson Ryan Williams of Bridgeport, PA; newborn great granddaughter, Ella Pascoe; his constant feline companion, Gizmo and numerous relatives throughout the country. Memorial contributions can be sent to Delaware State Parks; Lake Deaton United Methodist Church or any cat rescue. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
