Darrell D. Hopkins

1924 - 2016

Darrell D. Hopkins
10/3/1924-1/19/2016

Darrell D. Hopkins, 91, passed peacefully from this life into eternity on January 19 in Billings, Montana.
Born October 3, 1924 in Walnut Creek, Calif. to Marion and Ethel Hopkins, he attended schools in Walnut Creek, graduating from Acalanes High School.
Following High School, Darrell served in the Army Air Forces on Lt. Joe Fadden's Crew as a B-17 co-pilot from March 1943 to November 1945.
Upon returning from World War II, Darrell lived in the Bay Area where in 1947 he married Patricia Riley, a union greatly blessed by the birth of two sons, Robert in 1949 and Darrell in 1952. Sadly, Patricia passed away in 1976.
Darrell's 25-year California Highway Patrol career took their family to San Andreas, Placerville, and finally, Auburn, where he spent 35 years living in Lake Of The Pines, retiring from the CHP in 1977.
In the Summer of 1977, Darrell married Ardelle Brown who, sadly, passed away in 2003.
In 2014, Darrell moved from Auburn to Billings, Montana.
Darrell is especially remembered for his deep love for his entire family, frequent jokes and stories, great generosity, his love of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors, as well as his abiding faith in Jesus Christ.
Darrell is survived by his two sons: Robert (Beth) of Anchorage and Darrell (Joan) of Billings, his sister, Annabel Martin of Concord, CA, and Ardelle's children: Gerald Brown (Joyce) of Santa Rosa, Harold Brown (Bonnie) of Auburn, Jan Colt (Scott) of Walnut Creek, Michael Brown (Sharyl) of Grass Valley, and Keith Brown (Fredene) of Auburn as well as 29 Grandchildren, numerous Great-Grandchildren, and even a handful of Great-Great Grandchildren.
Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Leonard, Marion, Robert, and Don, as well as Ardelle's sons Donald and Russell Brown.
A Graveside Service will be held at 10:00 am, Saturday February 13, at the New Auburn Cemetery on Collins Drive. A reception will follow at 11:30 at Foothill Christian Fellowship (which Darrell was a member of) at 1100 Sugar Pine Road in Meadow Vista.
In lieu of flowers, Darrell's family invites you to make a memorial gift in his honor to the charity of your choice.