Frances D. Hopper

1922 - 2017

Frances D. Hopper

Whiting - Frances D Hopper, 95, of Whiting, died Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at Community Medical Center, Toms River. Born in Baltimore, MD, she was raised in Nutley, NJ. She attended Fairfax Hall, Waynesboro , VA and Pratt Institute of Art, Brooklyn. She left college after two years to take a job with Fiction House Comics in 1943. She was one of the first female comic book artists, drawing strong women characters including " Mysta of the Moon", "Camilla", "Glory Forbes", "Jane Martin" and "Gale Allen and her All Girl Squadron" . She later worked freelance with Stan Lee. Her work has recently been featured in several books about early female comic artists including "Pretty in Ink" and "Babes in Arms", both by Trina Robbins. In 2000, she was nominated to the Friends of Lulu Hall of Fame.

She retired in 1947 to raise a family with her husband John B. Hopper, MD. She continued to paint in both watercolor and oil. They lived in Mendham until 1955 when they moved to a 65 acre farm in Chester where they raised and showed Arabian horses. Ten years later they returned to Mendham until 1974 when they moved to Campton, NH.

She and her husband skied, played tennis and golf, sailed through the Caribbean on a 35 foot sailboat, camped and traveled the world. In 2006 they moved to The Pines at Whiting.

She was predeceased by her siblings, Stapleton C. Deitrick III, Lingan R. Deitrick, Elsie D. Halford and Emily D. Burklow Clouse and her beloved husband of 67 years in 2010. She is survived by her three children and their spouses, John B. Hopper III and Marjory of Brielle, Peter B. Hopper and Barbara of Wolfeboro, NH, and Dr Anne R. Knutson and Dr Eric of Lunenburg, MA. She will also be missed by her 10 grandchildren Margaret Matty(Chris), and John(Carey), Richard and Sara Hopper, Andrew(Lauren) and Timothy (Jenny)Hopper, and Jonathan, Elizabeth, Mark(Christian) and David (Alexis) Knutson and 8 great grandchildren and one on the way.

Funeral services will be private at the convenience of the family in the Mad River Cemetery, Campton, NH. Neary-Quinn Funeral Home, Manasquan was in charge of arrangements.