STOCKTON SPRINGS AND BREWER – Ruth (Palmer) Hopkins, 90, died peacefully May 19, 2013, at Bayview Manor Home, Searsport. She was born Feb. 13, 1923, in Bangor, daughter of Stanley F. and Bertha (Butterfield) Palmer.
Ruth married Harry S. Hopkins March 11, 1944. They were married for 55 years. Ruth graduated valedictorian of her class at Bangor High School in 1941 and worked as a bookkeeper at Dakins’ Sporting Goods. She graduated valedictorian from Husson College in 1961 with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and later received her Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Maine, Orono. In January of 1965 she was appointed to the faculty of Husson College. She taught accounting for more than 20 years. Ruth also taught briefly at Brewer High School and Beal College and worked as a certified public accountant. In retirement she volunteered at Service Core of Retired Executives, SCORE, and most recently was a docent at Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport. Ruth lived in Mississippi and Texas while her husband was serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps. After the war they returned to Maine and raised a family of three boys in Brewer. Ruth and Harry retired in Brooklin and later to Stockton Springs. Ruth and her husband traveled the world on numerous cruise ships. Her favorite was the Discovery Expedition to Antarctica in 1990. She enjoyed spending time at her camp on Isle au Haut with friends and family. She also enjoyed painting, writing and cross-stitching.
Ruth is survived by her three sons, Leon “Sonny” Hopkins, Jefferson Hopkins and wife, Diane (Ketch), and Charles Hopkins and wife, Donna (Wilkinson); grandchildren, Shannon, Shellie, Thomas “TJ” and Emily; great-grandchildren, Lyndsey, Ryan and Leah Haskell, Logan Hopkins and Sierra Kuhn. She is also survived by sister, Elizabeth (Palmer) Pearson; nieces, Sally Strout, Jane Prusinowski, Margaret Pearson and Babette Behm; and nephew, Richard “Chip” Palmer. Ruth was predeceased by her husband, Harry; brother, Richard Palmer; brother-in-law, Edgar Pearson; and nephew, Richard Pearson. The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the staff at Bayview Manor, Searsport.
A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, May 25, at the Brewer Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 55 South Main St., Brewer, with the Rev. Dr. Rex H. Garrett, director of Chaplaincy services, EMMC, officiating. The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Brookings-Smith Reception Rooms, 55 South Main St., Brewer, immediately after the service Saturday.
Ruth (Palmer) Hopkins
