Oren Hopkins

Oren Edward Hopkins Jr. died on May 8, 2011 at his home in Easton, Maryland in the presence of his family. Oren was born in Norfolk, Virginia on February 12, 1925 to Oren E. Hopkins Sr. and Norma Brock Hopkins. After graduation from Maury High School, he was drafted into the Army in July 1943 and served as a combat engineer in the 282nd Engineer Combat Battalion of Patton’s Third Army in the European Theater. After the war, Oren attended the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering in 1950. During his years at Virginia Tech he played football on the 1946 Sun Bowl team and served as co-Captain of the 1949 team. He also served as President of the German Club of Virginia Tech. Oren was recognized as a distinguished undergraduate student by his election to Alpha Pi Mu, Tau Beta Pi and Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK). After graduation he attended Columbia University, earning a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering in 1951. Oren started his professional career in the engineering service division of the duPont Company in Wilmington, Delaware and met his wife Marian Elizabeth Brown soon thereafter. They were married in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania in May 1953 and raised three children – Jane, Oren III (Tripp) and Christian. After duPont, Oren spent 18 years with the Sharples/Pennwalt Corporation as a sales engineer and general sales manager, followed by 10 years with EIMCO, a division of Envirotech, as Vice President for Sales and Marketing, before founding the Coombs-Hopkins Company in 1985. During his career in wastewater management, Oren actively participated in a variety of professional organizations (WWEMA, WEF, AWWA, AWPCA), holding a number of leadership positions over the years. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Tech Alumni Association, was a member of the Ut Prosim Society and the Committee of 100 of the College of Engineering at Virginia Tech, and was elected to the Virginia Tech All Century Football Team. Oren was an active volunteer for the American Field Service student exchange organization and was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Alta Club of Salt Lake City. Oren and Marian’s involvement in AFS led to many relationships that have lasted a lifetime. Their AFS daughter, Barbara Lund (Sam and Becky), and Nii Ansah Mensah (Marlene, Nate, Teki) have long been a part of their extended family. Sports played a large role in Oren’s life, both as a participant and a fan. In Salt Lake City he became an avid Utah Jazz fan and the family enjoyed many ski outings together with friends from around the world. He skied until his late 70s. Oren also had a passion for music, dance, art and travel. After his retirement in 2001, Oren and Marian returned to their East coast roots where they settled in Easton, Maryland. Here Oren enjoyed boating, attending music and art events, watercolor painting and gardening. He valued friendships and family, was openhearted, warm and fun-loving, a supportive and beloved husband, father and grandfather. He is preceded in death by his son, Christian Smith Hopkins, and survived by his wife, Marian Brown Hopkins, his daughter Jane C. Hopkins and husband Stephen Geiger of Arlington, Virginia, his son Oren (Tripp) E. Hopkins III and wife Laura Dupuy of Salt Lake City, Utah; and two grandchildren, Michael Christian Hopkins and Sarah Jane Hopkins. A memorial service for family and friends will be held at The Presbyterian Church of Easton, 617 N. Washington St., Easton, MD at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Interment will be at Longwood Cemetery, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The family requests that donations, in lieu of flowers, be made to the German Club Alumni Foundation, 711 Southgate Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24060, the National Kidney Foundation of Maryland, 1107 Kenilworth Dr., Suite 202, Baltimore, Maryland 21204, or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are being handled by Fellows, Helfenbein and Newnam, P.A. of Easton Maryland