Lucille Katherine Hopkins
July 9, 1919 ~ Aug. 1, 2008
Lucille slipped quietly into heaven on Aug. 1, 2008, in Durango, Colo. She was born on July 9, 1919, at the family home in the little village of Kewaskum, Wis., to Elwyn and Edna (Guth) Romaine; one of five children. She was graduated from Kewaskum High School and went to work as a bookkeeper for the local creamery. On April 26, 1941 she married Herbert F. Hopkins whom she met in high school. He had moved to Wisconsin from Connecticut and was the “new man in town.” They lived in Milwaukee, Wis., where Herb apprenticed for Nordberg, a diesel manufacturer. Two daughters were born to the couple while in Wisconsin. In late 1949 Herb moved the family to the frontier town of Rangely, Colo., during the days of the oil boom, to work as line superintendent for Salt Lake Pipeline (Chevron). With Herb’s company transfers, Lucille lived in Salt Lake City, Utah, where their son was born, and Boise, Idaho. They retired in 1983 to Bayfield, Colo. Several years following Herb’s death in 1991, Lucille moved to Durango, Colo., to be nearer to daughter, Beth and son-in-law, David.
Lucille was a homemaker and a gardener. Her cookie jar was always full. She never drove an automobile. Her great joy was sending cards and letters addressed in her beautiful handwriting. Birthdays and anniversaries were never forgotten.
She was “grammy” to her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and to others who knew her. Grammy loved her family, loved the children she taught at Sunday School, loved her church and she loved Jesus most. She loved picnics and baseball. Grammy prayed. Her well-worn Bible was her guide. She put others first and she touched the lives of many. Her membership was with the Frontier Baptist Church in Durango.
Lucille was preceded in death by her husband, a brother Robert Romaine (while serving in WWII) and another brother Curtis Romaine. She is survived by daughter Sarah (Joel) Hogan of Rangely, Colo., daughter Beth (David) Rice of Durango, Colo., and son Rev. H. James (Karen) Hopkins of Oakland, Calif. She is survived by seven grandchildren: Todd (Stephanie) Hogan of Rangely, Colo., Drew Hogan of Rifle, Colo., Jeffry (Sarah) Rice of Parker, Colo.,, Bart (Cheryl) Rice of Albuquerque, N.M. and Aaron, Kristen and Ethan Hopkins of Oakland, Calif. She is survived by nine great-grandchildren: Audrey, Aimee Christopher and Kellan Hogan and Jared, Emma, Brandon, Cora and Makenzie Rice. A sister Charlotte (Joe) Faulkner of Stratford, N.J. and a brother Richard (Virginia) Romaine of Sheboygan, Wis., also survive.
Grave-side services will be held at the Bayfield Cemetery on Saturday, Aug. 9 at 10 a.m. for family and friends. (Those attending are asked to bring lawn chairs.)
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Nick and Michaela Dunn, Missionaries to China c/o Frontier Baptist Church, 2201 Forest Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 or Mercy Hospice of Durango.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hood Mortuary of Durango.
