Lewis A. Hopkins

Lewis Alexander Hopkins of San Antonio died of a heart attack on June 24, 2008 at the age of 89. Lew was born on June 10, 1919 in Luthersville, Georgia to Ernest Eugene Hopkins, Sr. and Fannie Bean Hopkins. He graduated from Luthersville High School in 1934 and from Berry College in Rome, Ga. in 1939. While in college he met Ruby Stevens and they married on September 26, 1941 in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Lew joined the Navy on July 1, 1940 as an apprentice seaman and retired June 30, 1974 as a Rear Admiral, Upper Half. During his Naval Career he served as a dive bomber pilot in World War II in the Pacific participating in the pivotal Battle of Midway and later in the Southwestern Pacific in the Battle of Santa Cruz in which his carrier, The U.S.S. Hornet was sunk. After World War II he earned a Master's degree in Aeronautical Engineering and was a pioneer in the development of jet engines and initiated the development of the jet engine which subsequently became the propulsion system for the SR-71 advanced reconnaissance plane. In the early 1970s he commanded the Naval Missile Center in Ventura, California, where various naval missiles, including the sidewinder, sparrow, and phoenix missiles were tested. His last duty station before retirement was the Assistant Chief of the Naval Air Command for Research and Development. He retired on July, 1974 and moved to Del Mar California where he became active in community affairs serving on the City Council and as Mayor. In June of 1944 he moved to The Towers in San Antonio, where he served as President of The Towers Co-Operative Association for over 7 years. Following the death of his wife Ruby in 2001, Lew married Mary Lokken. Lew's brother Eugene Hopkins Jr. and sister, Frances Chandler preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Mary; daughters, Betty Beason and her spouse, Nathan, Anne Hopkins and spouse, Howard Richmond, Linda Hawkins and spouse, Stephen. Also surviving are grandchildren, Glynnon Wiggins and spouse, Walter, Emily Beason, Allison McIntyre, Amy Britt, Richard Hawkins and spouse, Carol Appenzeller, Randy Hawkins and spouse, Lisa Regul; as well as three great-grandchildren, Elise and Jocelyn Wiggins and Ian Wiggins. MEMORIAL SERVICE MONDAY JUNE 30, 2008 10:30 A.M. THE TOWERS 1 TOWERS PARK LANE SAN ANTONIO, TX In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Lewis A. Hopkins Endowment Chemistry Scholarship Fund at Berry College, P.O. Box 490069, Mount Berry, GA. 30149. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery. You are invited to sign the guestbook at www.porterloring.com Arrangements with Porter Loring Mortuary.