Constance Ann McKinney Hopkinson

EAST BERLIN Constance Ann McKinney Hopkinson, 62, of Lake Meade, East Berlin, Adams County, died Tuesday, September 4, 2007, at 6:05 p.m. after fighting a long and courageous battle with many illnesses. She was born in Columbia, July 17, 1945, the daughter of the late Thelma (Miller) McKinney and the late Herbert McKinney. Connie graduated from Hempfield High School, Lancaster County, in 1963 and Millersville University in 1967 with B.S.'s in Elementary Education and Special Education. She earned her M.A. in Special Education from Millersville University. Connie began her long and wonderful teaching career in the York City School District, teaching in the Ferguson, Hartley, and Jackson schools. After taking seven years off from teaching to raise her son, Michael, she returned to teaching at Central York High School, where Connie spent the next 20 years teaching senior high special needs students. She was forced to take a disability retirement in 2000 after suffering a stroke. In high school Connie participated in varsity field hockey, student council, and National Honor Society. She participated in Girl Scouts and Job's Daughters where she was PHQ. While in college, she was president and treasurer of her class; president of Delta Phi Eta, the women's honor society; and elected to Who's Who. During her teaching career "Miss Hop", as she was known to her high school students and parents, was responsible for the formation of one of the first SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapters and the first TREND (Taking Recreational Experiences in New Directions) chapter in Pennsylvania. The SADD chapters and student councils of York County schools, under her leadership, established the Kain Memorial, dedicated to the innocent victims of DUI crashes, at Kain Park, Lake Redman, of the York County Park System. She was the first president of the York County TREND Board of Directors and continued to serve on the board. Connie served on the York and Adams Counties' Traffic Safety Councils and the York County Community Forums for Youth. She was chairperson of the York Council from 1999 to 2002. Connie was past facilitator of THEOS, a widowed persons support group. For many years she taught a trainable Sunday school class at Aldersgate Methodist Church, worked with Special Olympics, and taught swimming to special needs children in York. She was a founding member of the York Branch of American Association of University Women and remained as a member at large of the national organization. Miss Hop was given the Teacher of the Year Award by Central York School District. Millersville University chose her as Cooperating Teacher of the Year twice. The 1994 Enrique Camarena One Person Can Make A Difference Award for Drug and Alcohol Awareness Campaigns in York and Adams Counties was given to Miss Hop for her untiring efforts to keep the children free of drugs and alcohol. In 2005 Connie was honored by the York County Chapter American Red Cross with the Angel Community Impact Award for working with children and youth to eliminate drugs and underage alcohol. She also received the Dale E. Anstine Volunteer of the Week award. Connie was predeceased by her first husband, James G. Hopkinson, in 1988. She leaves her husband, Myron D. Bird. Her son, Michael J. Hopkinson, is married to Jennifer Hopkinson, VMD. They have a son, Evan Michael Hopkinson, and live in Lewisburg. Connie also leaves a sister, Mary Wertman and her husband, Donald L. of Nampa, Idaho; three nieces, Theresa Adams and husband, Jon of Nampa, Idaho, Brandy Collins of Lakewood, Colo., and Kristina Hopkinson of Taipei, R.O.C.; three nephews, Donald M. Wertman and wife, Beverly of Tukwila, Wash., Matthew Neuman of Bozeman, Mont., and Branden Hopkinson of Golden, Colo.; stepsons, Rev. Steven W. Bird of Kewanee, Ill., David M. Bird of Silver Spring, Md.; and stepdaughter, Janine E. Bird of Santa Cruz, Calif. The viewing at Etzweiler Funeral Home, 1111 E. Market St., York, will be Sunday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and one hour before the memorial service which will be Monday, September 10, at 11 a.m. Officiating will be the Rev. Nancy L. Dahlberg, Pastor of Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ, Mountville, and the Rev. Steven W. Bird, Pastor of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Kewanee, Ill. Interment will be at Susquehanna Memorial Gardens following the service. Bethel 7, International Order of Job's Daughters, will perform "The Old Rugged Cross" at the beginning of the Sunday evening viewing. Because of Miss Hop's passionate feelings for the well-being and mission of TREND, please, in lieu of flowers, make contributions to York County TREND, c/o Denise Drais, 1860 Hayward Road, York, PA 17404. York County TREND is an IRS 501c(3) tax deductible organization. www.etzweiler.com