Information provided by Ben's son Steve:
Ben Hopkins was born November 4, 1919, in Richland Springs, Texas. He
passed away in the Long Beach VA Hospital on July 3, 2010, surrounded by
loving friends and family.
He was married on December 9, 1942, to Jo Anne Pelton, who passed away
November 23, 1990. He joined the Army Air Corps and flew a B17
bomber. After being shot down over Germany in April 1943, he spent more
than two years as a Prisoner of War in Stalag Luft III and received a
Purple Heart in recognition for his injuries. He attended Clemson College
in South Carolina for two years before transferring to the University of
Southern California, where he received a B.S. Degree in Civil Engineering
in 1950. Ben was a licensed Civil, Structural, and Mechanical engineer and
General Contractor in many states, and was well recognized as an expert in
design and construction of towers, oil drilling equipment, and materials
handling.
After working in an engineering job at Dresser-Ideco, a manufacturer of oil
derricks and radio towers, he joined Clarence Thomas as a partner in 1955
to form Thomas & Hopkins, Professional Engineers, continuing the business
after Mr. Thomas' death in 1968. Ben also founded Tower Structures, Inc., a
tower manufacturing and construction company, retiring in 1990. In 1993 he
returned to Richland Springs, and was married to La Verta Adams Brent, who
passed away on May 10, 2005. Ben gradually lost the use of his legs due to
injuries suffered in WWII. He lived the last three years of his life in
Orange, California, with his daughter Lynda Armbruster, son-in-law Tom
Armbruster and grandson Edward Kennedy. He is survived by daughters Lynda
and Pamela DelaCerda; sons Steven Hopkins and Ronald Hopkins; grandsons
Edward Kennedy, Ronnie Hopkins, and Sean DelaCerda; daughter-in-law Claire
Hopkins and two great-granddaughters, Lucille Hopkins and Barbara Hopkins.
Funeral services will be held in Richland Springs, Texas, on July 17, 2010
at 9:00 AM. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made
to one of the following:
California Paralyzed Veterans of America
5901 E. 7th St
Long Beach CA 90822
526-826-5713
www.calpva.org
Best Friends Animal Society
5001 Angel Canyon Road
Kanab UT 84741
435-644-2001 Ext. 4801