Claudia S. Hopper, 84, of The Villages, FL, passed from this life Sunday, February 4, 2018. Born in Cold Spring, NY, she was the daughter of the late Claude and Roberta (Fleming) Smith. Claudia was pre-deceased by her twin sister Cynthia Smith and her younger fraternal twin siblings Robert Smith and Roberta “Bobbette” Smith.
Claudia graduated from Haldane High School and attended Spencer Business School in New York City. Claudia was employed as a Stenographer with Texaco Oil in New York where she met and married James “Jim” Hopper and had two children. In 1969, they moved to Glen Burnie, MD and later she was employed by the Anne Arundel County School System until her retirement in 1998.
In 2003, Claudia and her beloved husband Jim came to The Villages from Glen Burnie, MD. She enjoyed the active lifestyle of The Villages. Claudia was one of the original members of the Crazy Cards Club. She was a member of the Red Hat Society, the Honeymooners Club and actively participated in bocce, bowling, jazzercise as well as several other clubs.
Claudia leaves behind her husband of 62 years, James F. Hopper; daughters, Melissa Haplea (Gene) and Priscilla Barker (Jerome) all of The Villages, FL; a sister, Priscilla Kessler (Richard), of Hobe Sound, FL; 5 grandchildren, Justin, Trent, Megan, Kevin, and Gretchen and 1 great granddaughter, Stella.
A Memorial Service will be held at the Hiers-Baxley Funeral & Cremation Life Event Center 3975 Wedgewood Lane, The Villages, FL on Friday, March 2, 2018 at 10 a.m., immediately followed by a reception to celebrate Claudia’s life. Private Committal services will follow in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions in honor of Claudia’s memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (www.alz.org) or to Marion County Hospice Ted & Diane Brandley House 17395 SE 109 Terrace Road, Summerfield, FL 34491.
