Roger Earl Hopkins

Roger Earl Hopkins passed away on January 7, 2025, in College Station, Texas. Roger was born on August 28, 1938, in Berkley, California, to Pauline Blankenship Hopkins and Earl Thomas Hopkins.

 Roger spent his childhood among the waterways of the California Delta, an intricate network of canals and sloughs. His family operated Whiskey Slough, a marina and boat dock outside of Stockton in the San Joaquin Valley. This is where his lifelong love of fishing began.

 Following high school, Roger completed officer training school with the United States Marine Corps in Quantico, Virginia. In 1958, following a stint in the Marine Corps Reserve, he received a congressional appointment to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. Upon graduation from the Academy in 1962, he accepted a commission into the Air Force.

 Roger completed the Armament Systems Officer “Fighter” Course at Lowry Air Force Base, Colorado, in 1963. He was then assigned to the 5th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Minot AFB in North Dakota. While in North Dakota, despite his significant responsibilities as Officer-In-Charge of Airborne Electronics for his squadron, Lieutenant Hopkins coached a Little League Baseball team when off duty.

 After graduating from Pilot Training School at Vance AFB in Enid, Oklahoma, in 1965, Roger was assigned to Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas, where he served as a T-38 instructor pilot for four years.

 In Del Rio, Roger met the love of his life, Linda Rose. An avid cowboy, Roger brought his horse to Del Rio with him, stabling it with a local rancher. The rancher and his wife took a liking to him and said they knew “a girl he needed to meet.”

 Roger and Linda were married on September 17, 1966. They were married for over 53 years and had three children: Shannon, Kim, and R.E.

 After the Air Force, Roger spent 15 years as a commercial pilot for Continental Airlines. As Roger’s flying assignments changed, the young family moved to Southern California then back to Texas.

 Settling in Del Rio, Roger began a construction business. And in 1985, he was named Del Rio’s Most Valuable Citizen for his role in founding Texas National, a commuter airline that flew routes along the Texas border and into Mexico.

 Living in Del Rio and later in New Braunfels, Roger developed and built numerous residential and commercial real estate projects throughout central and south Texas.

 Throughout his life, Roger was a devoted husband, father, uncle, and grandfather. He often told his children that there was nothing more important than family.

 Roger was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Larry Hopkins, and his beloved wife Linda. He is survived by his children and grandchildren: Shannon and Chris Work of Houston, Jordan, Abby, and Patrick Work; Kim and Sid Cauthorn of Del Rio, Abb, Hattie, and Mills Cauthorn; R.E. and Robin Hopkins of Midland, Will, Casey, and Cade Hopkins and Blazelyn Morrison. Roger is also survived by his sister Linda Purdy, sister-in-law Donna Hopkins, granddaughter-in-law Haley Work, and numerous nieces and nephews.

 A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 18th at 1:00 pm at Westlawn Cemetery in Del Rio. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Roger’s memory to the ALS Association, Wounded Warriors, or a charity of your choice. Roger will be greatly missed by many. We love you, Dad.