Philip Hopkins

OXFORD - Philip L. Hopkins, 87, of Wheelock Street, died Thursday, September 12, 2013. He was predeceased by his wife of 60 years, Matilda V. (Vormwald) Hopkins, who died in 2008. He is survived by nine children, James P. Hopkins of Oxford, William W. Hopkins and his wife Linda Daniels of Providence, RI, Michael P. Hopkins and his wife Barbara of Oxford, Mark G. Hopkins of Oxford, Nancy L. Hopkins of North Miami, FL, Mary P. Hoffman and her husband Richard of Alfred, NY, Heidi A. Aronofsky and her husband Rick of Wilmington, Laurie J. Hopkins-Kane and her husband John Kane of Natick, and Colleen M. Pappas and her husband Chris of Oxford; a sister, Janice McNally of Endwell, NY; 22 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and several nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by a son, Philip L. Hopkins Jr., who died in 2004; and a great grandson, Talon M. Whitcomb, who died in 2013. He was born in Cortland, NY, the son of the late Lynn T. and Alta M. (Ivory) Hopkins, and had lived in Oxford since 1951. He graduated from Cortland High School in 1943 and enlisted in the Army Air Forces, earning his wings and becoming a military pilot. World War II ended before he saw service overseas. Following the war, he attended Syracuse University and moved to Massachusetts to work in the poultry feed industry. Next to his Wheelock Street home, where he and "Tilly" raised their 10 children, he founded his own business, Philip L. Hopkins Inc. He designed and built poultry feed mills throughout New England and the Eastern Seaboard. To travel to the various construction sites, he earned his private pilot's license and bought a single-engine Cessna aircraft. He was a 40-year member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. Though he traveled often, he was active in the community of Oxford. He made a brief foray into politics, running for the School Committee in the mid-1960s and losing the election by 10 votes. Because Oxford was dealing with overcrowded schools, he served on the Building Committee that oversaw construction of the new high school that opened in 1968. He was active in St. Roch's Catholic Church, known to many in the congregation as a lector and known to bishops and clergy alike for his active participation in Serra International (since 1957) of which he was a past president and past district governor. He was also known to many in Oxford for his volunteer efforts at Hubbard Regional Hospital in Webster, of which he was a past president and corporator. He was also for many years on the Board of Directors at Webster Five Cent Savings Bank. His friends in business were many and he was a past president of the Webster/Dudley/Oxford Chamber of Commerce, which also honored him with its Man of the Year Award. He lived an active life and reveled in doing. He took up sailing, and was most at home on Webster Lake on a breezy summer day. He even, for a short time, owned a yacht-building company. He fought diabetes and heart disease for many years, exercising regularly at a gym until just a few months ago, and living well beyond all medical expectations. He enjoyed telling stories, of which there were many, and had a salesman's knack for remembering faces and names. He took great pride in his contributions to the community and was a familiar face around town. A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 18, 2013, at St. Roch's Church, 332 Main St., Oxford. Private burial will be at a later date at St. Roch's Cemetery in Oxford. The family will accept condolences on Tuesday, September 17, 2013, from 5-8 p.m. at Paradis Funeral Home, 357 Main St., Oxford. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association and to the Talon's Christmas Wish fund that helps terminally ill children: P.O. Box 197, Charlton, MA 01507 or at talonschristmaswish.org