Stanley L Hopperstead

Stanley L. Hopperstead of Park City, UT (previously Manchester, CT), passed away at age 88 on August 25, 2025, with family by his side after a brief stay in the hospital. We are grateful that he lived a long, wonderful life with his high school sweetheart, Phyllis.

Stan was born December 19, 1936, in Champagne, Illinois to Sever Laverne and Marjorie Hopperstead. After several family moves they settled in Bridgeville, Delaware, in 1951 where he attended Bridgeville High School. Stan played football, basketball and baseball during High School. After graduation he joined the Air Force in 1956 for pilot training in Georgia and Texas. Upon graduation from flight school and leaving active duty in the United States Air Force, he married his high school sweetheart, Phyllis A. Rowe on June 14, 1958. He then attended the University of Delaware where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering in 1963. After the Air Force, Stan started a 29-year career with Pratt & Whitney / United Technologies in East Hartford, CT where he was employed as an experimental test engineer, flight test engineer, engineering test pilot, manager of the Pratt & Whitney Flight Test company, and a development engineer for PW2000 civilian aircraft engines. Upon employment with Pratt & Whitney, he also joined the Connecticut Air National Guard where he served as pilot (flying F-100s, F-102s and other aircraft), squadron operations officer, and group planning officer. After 23 years, he retired as a Lt. Colonel.

Stan and Phyllis were married 67 years. Their marriage was an incredible love story filled with great love for their family, passion for their careers, and immense devotion to each other and their two daughters, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. They lived in Elsmere, DE, after getting married and then moved to Manchester, Connecticut in 1963.

Stan was an avid "tinkerer" and hobbyist! He had a small workshop with an expansive collection of tools in several neatly organized tool chests and personally built multiple computers for family and friends.

Stan is survived by his wife Phyllis, daughters Sherrie Bradway (Gary) and Shana Hopperstead (Ross DiCaprio), Granddaughters Megan Anthony and Jessica DiCaprio, Grandsons Todd Anthony (Kristen) and Ross DiCaprio Jr., and Great Grandsons Jack, Will and Brian Anthony. Surviving sisters are Linda Hammond and Judy Short (Dan).

A service will be held at later date in Bridgeville, Delaware. The family requests no flowers. Donations to a charity of your choice in Stan's name would be welcome. If you would like to support a charity close to his heart, a donation to the Chef W. Clarke Hammond Memorial Scholarship Foundation would be very meaningful (www.hammondscholarship.com). Clarke was Stan's nephew. He was a chef and culinary instructor. Donations can be made by sending a check with Hammond Scholarship Fund in the memo line to:

The Chef W. Clarke Hammond Memorial Foundation

Berks Career & Technology Center Education Foundation

1057 County Welfare Road

Leesport, PA 19533