Remembering Donald McClain Hopkins

On March 8, 2022 loving husband and father Don Hopkins, 85, passed away in Marco Island, Florida. Don was born in Monessen Pennsylvania in 1936. He attended Charleroi High School and shortly thereafter Don married the love of his life and wife of 65 years Laverne “Joy” Hopkins. The couple attended college at California University Pennsylvania together where they earned their BS degrees in Education. Don then served in the US Marine Corps at Quantico, Virginia (1959-1965).

After a few short years as an educator, Don transitioned to private industry and spent 31 wonderful years working for Corning, Incorporated (previously Corning Glass Works) in both Charleroi, Pennsylvania and Corning, New York in the fields of Labor Relations, Human Resources and Training. Once retired in 1995 he and Joy, as he would say, “put the cold New York winters in the rear-view mirror” and moved to Marco Island.

Throughout his life, Don devoted much of his time in service to others, his community, his church and profession. Since 1962, Don was active in several Masonic organizations such as the Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite in Pennsylvania as well as serving as past president of the Shrine Club on Marco Island. He served as President of the School Board in Charleroi, Pennsylvania; was a board member for United Way of Corning and University of Binghamton in New York. Don also gave his time to advance his profession in serving as past president of the American Apprenticeship Roundtable; appointed to the White House’s Industry-Labor Committee on Disabled Individuals, in Washington, DC; and in 1979 to the Federal Apprenticeship Committee led by the US Secretary of Labor. Additionally, Don has worked on multiple veteran-focused projects over the years, a topic very important to him.

A man of many hobbies, Don’s most favored was restoring antique cars. You’d often see him cruising by in his favorite beauty, a 1958 Corvette. However, above all, his greatest passion was making us all laugh with his storytelling which never failed to entertain.

Family was the center of Don’s world. He is survived by his three children (Jill Hopkins of Chicago, Illinois, Scott (Nancy) Hopkins of Terrell, North Carolina, Todd (Gina) Hopkins of Clarksville, Maryland), six grandchildren (Jeffrey, Michael, Carly, Jessica, Tyler, and Isabel) and two great-grandchildren (Nicholas and Caleb). 

A Celebration of Life service will be held for both Don and Joy at 11:00 AM on March 30, 2022, with an informal gathering for friends and family starting at 10:00 AM at Hodges-Josberger Funeral Home, 577 East Elkcam Circle, Marco Island, Florida. 

A small ceremony will also take place in Charleroi, Pennsylvania; date to be determined.

Memorial contributions may be made to AVOW Hospice.