Barney Q. Hopkins Obituary (1918 - 2006)

Mr. Barney Q. Hopkins, 87, of Madisonville, KY, died Saturday, March 4, 2006, at 10:25 P.M., at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, KY. \ Born September 25, 1918, in Carlsbad, New Mexico, he was the son of the late Barney Quinten Hopkins Sr. and Sarah Amanda Kirkendoll Hopkins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Roy E. Hopkins on March 4, 1994, and by a grandson, Randy Craig Howerton on October 29, 2005. \ Mr. Hopkins was an avid outdoorsman and Boy Scout as a youth, earning the rank of Eagle Scout in 1933. He graduated from Carlsbad High School and East New Mexico University, with a degree in Social Science, and was employed as a professional Boy Scout Executive just prior to World War II. In May of 1942, Mr. Hopkins volunteered for the Army (and parachute training), completed basic training at Camp Roberts, California, and airborne school at Fort Benning. He was promoted to Corporal and served in Co D, 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, and rose in rank rapidly to Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, and First Sergeant. His regiment was trained and deployed to Northern Ireland and later Nottingham, England, in preparation for Operation Overload. First Sergeant Hopkins made a combat jump into Normandy on June 6, 1944, and participated in the initial assault, and follow-on operations in Amfreville and surrounding areas. He participated in the crossing of the Merderet River and was awarded a battlefield commission for his actions in those campaigns. Later assigned to the 177th Airborne, Lt. Hopkins also participated in the Battle of the Bulge, and the crossing of the Rhine River. Promoted twice, Cpt. Hopkins finished the war and his service in the Army in 1949. \ Mr. Hopkins awards and decorations include the parachute badge (with three combat stars), the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with arrowhead, the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart (with one oak leaf cluster signifying a second award), the Silver Star, and our nations second highest award for heroism in combat at great personal risk of life, the Distinguished Service Cross. \ During the ensuing years, Mr. Hopkins continued in a leadership capacity as a Scoutmaster, serving 3 years in New Mexico in Troop 32, and 28 years in Madisonville, KY, in Troop 11. He has worked as an independent insurance salesman for the past 45 years. He and his wife reside in Madisonville, KY. \ Mr. Hopkins was a member of the First Baptist Church in Madisonville, taught the Arthur Fox Sunday School Class for many years, was a Deacon Emeritus and former treasurer of the church, had served on the Property Committee and assisted in obtaining several pieces of property for the church. \ He is survived by his wife, Rena Cavanah Hopkins of Madisonville; two daughters, Sharon Frances Howerton and Michelle Berryhill, both of Roswell, NM; a sister, Mozelle Miller of Plano, TX; three grandchildren, Connie Clark, Susan Vaughns, and Donald Wayer Becker; three great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. \ Funeral services will be Thursday, March 9, 2006, at 11:00 A.M., at the First Baptist Church with Dr. Joe Leonard officiating. Burial will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery. \ Visitation will be Wednesday, March 8, 2006, from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., and from 8:00 A.M. until 9:00 A.M. on Thursday at the Barnett-Strother Funeral Home. Visitation on Thursday from 10:00 A.M. until the service time at the church. \ Pallbearers will be David Spain, Kevin McClearn, Scott Deahl, Allen Brown, Mark McCoy, Robin Brown, Lee Harris, Alan Dockery and Ed Moore. Honorary pallbearers will be former Eagle Scouts of Troop 11 obtained under Mr. Hopkins. \ Memorials may take the form of donations to Boy Scout Troop 11 at the First Baptist Church or the Western Kentucky Veterans Center. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. \ Online condolences may be made at www.barnettstrother.com. \