Stephen Rodger Hopkins

Steve Hopkins was born in Los Angeles, California on October 27th, 1941. He was raised in the Pasadena / Altadena area and was very proud of his California roots. Every New Year's Day, he watched the Rose Parade weave through his beloved town and smiled at the backdrop of the Sierra Madre Mountains with the consistently UCLA blue skies. At the age of 74, Steve passed peacefully on January 20th , 2016, after a sudden illness. Steve attended John Muir High School in Pasadena where he played basketball and didn't study but formed friendships that would continue throughout his life. On a basketball scholarship, Steve attended Chapman College in Orange, California. While especially skilled in basketball, he also played baseball and threw the javelin on the track team for Chapman. Steve was the Associated Mens' Student President in his senior year and was actively involved in student government. While there, he made lifelong friends and met the Homecoming Queen, Ruthie Gortsema, who became his wife in 1964. During his college years, Steve served as a lifeguard and counselor at the YMCA Camp Bluff Lake in Big Bear, California which brought countless memories of pranks pulled, stories shared and friends made. Steve began his career with Allstate in Santa Ana, California. As his career grew, he moved throughout the United States including other stops in CA and onto North Carolina, Georgia and, finally, Allstate's home office in Chicago, Illinois. After 31 successful years, Steve and Ruth retired to Asheville, NC. Upon settling in Fletcher/Fairview and starting a new chapter after his corporate life, Steve found a passion for volunteering and serving others. He felt strongly about keeping the countryside clean and arranged litter patrols where he and others picked up trash on Cane Creek Road. Steve volunteered for ten years at Food for Fairview where he helped stock and deliver food, often using his truck to carry extra big loads. Through the Literacy Counsel of Buncombe County, Steve dedicated over ten years of his heart and soul to weekly lessons teaching English to Hispanic families. While this was often designed to teach a working adult, Steve extended his role to helping children with homework, coaching families through hard times and celebrating their milestones. "Mr. Steve" became a part of these special families and he greatly enjoyed their relationships. Over the last several years, he volunteered as a tutor at Fairview Elementary and Cane Creek Middle schools which brought him new experiences and happiness. While Steve attended church throughout his life, he became more involved and faith filled after moving to North Carolina and joining Central United Methodist. There, he became a Stephen Minister and took that responsibility to heart, providing care, compassion and encouragement to people in need of support. Steve and Ruth had the joy of joining two unforgettable mission trips to Bolivia and Costa Rica where he contributed to a wide variety of church building projects. Steve loved to read, often conquering several books at a time and, in later years, read the Bible carefully every night. Sports played a significant role in Steve's life. He grew up listening to the Brooklyn Dodgers on the radio and became a lifelong fan. He spent time in Palm Springs for Angels Spring training, watched the great pitching of the 80's Atlanta Braves and many glorious days at Wrigley Field. He even kept a baseball bat in his truck in case he had time to stop at the batting cage. While especially fond of the alma maters of his children, University of Iowa and Purdue University, he followed many teams and became a Clemson Tiger once he settled in NC. Steve had an uncanny knack for recalling sports facts and stories often amazing friends and family with his recollection teams, players and personalities which always resulted in smiles from all. Steve was preceded in death by his cherished parents, William and Frances Hopkins. He is survived by his wife, Ruth, who was his companion, friend and devoted partner through 51 years of marriage. Steve has two sisters with whom he was very close. Susan Jameson, husband Jim, of Boise, Idaho and Nancy Short, husband Reggie, of Laguna Nigel, California. Steve and Ruth have two children, Shannon Thompson and Matt Hopkins. Shannon and her husband, Rick, have two sons, Stephen (16) and Benjamin (12) and live in Rock Hill, SC. Matt and his wife, Kendra, live in Bloomington, Indiana and also have two sons Andrew (13) and Jack (10). Steve's grandsons brought him laughter, kept him young and gave him great pride. Steve was a quiet, humble, unassuming man with a deep faith. His greatest joys were sitting on the porch soaking in the beauty of the Blue Ridge, watching ball games, planning trips with Ruth, barbequing on his old Weber and laughing with his grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 on Friday, January 29th, at Central United Methodist Church with a reception to follow in the Fellowship Hall. The family would like to thank Mission Hospital's Palliative Care Unit, Chaplains Buddy and Donna and the dedicated ICU team. Additionally, the limitless time, compassion and care of the CUMC's ministers will forever be appreciated. In Steve's honor and memory, donations may be made to Central United Methodist Church, The Literacy Council of Buncombe County or Food for Fairview. As you remember Steve, strive to be kind, do good deeds and love your family and friends.