Robert Lee Hopkins

Robert – better known as Bob, Dad, Uncle Bob, or Pop-Pop – was born on November 28, 1939 in Flatwoods, West Virginia to his parents, Wayne and Glenna Hopkins. The second of four children, Bob and his older sister Shirley were both born in Flatwoods, WV. When Bob was 2 years old, his father went to the Baltimore, MD area to find work to support his growing family. After finding a job with the Martin Company helping to build airplanes to support World War II, Wayne relocated his family to Middle River. Bob’s two younger siblings, Janice (who everyone calls Marve) and Jimmy were born in the following years. Bob’s mother, Glenna was a homemaker for many years while her children were young. A well-loved cook, she later took a role working at a pharmacy, cooking in the kitchen.
Bob met his future wife, Sandy, at a dance while they were both students at Kenwood High School in Essex, MD. The two high school sweethearts loved to dance – they were even featured on the Buddy Deane Show, dancing the Madison – the episode and dance that inspired a scene in the film Hairspray. Bob played baseball throughout high school and was in the running for a chance to play in the minor leagues – but on the day he had a scout coming to see him play baseball, he passed up the opportunity to go on a first date with his future wife, Sandy.  Bob graduated from Kenwood High in 1958, followed by Sandy in 1960.
After completing basic training in Texas, Bob served in the U. S. Air Force working in payroll in New Hampshire.  He later attended Baltimore City Community College, where he studied accounting and bookkeeping.
Bob and Sandy were married on September 23, 1961.  After starting their married life in an apartment in Cedonia, they bought a townhouse in Holland Hills in 1966.  Their first two children, Stacy and Matt, were born while they lived in Holland Hills.  After moving to Bel Air in 1977, their youngest son, Mark, was born.
Bob’s career evolved over the years.  In his early days, he worked at Continental Canning – where he had several fingers partially severed and later sewn back on.  He worked as a regional manager with Panasonic, and later transitioned into a role as a stock broker – a role he continued to fill the rest of his life.  He first joined Legg Mason in 1987, which then transitioned to AG Edwards, and later Wells Fargo.  Bob enjoyed the work of caring for and supporting his clients – who he thought of as friends.
Bob coached his sons on baseball and basketball teams in Bel Air in the 1980s and 1990s, and remained a loyal Orioles fan his whole life. He also loved to play golf, and would often travel with his clubs when traveling for business. A long-time member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Joppa, Bob served as the Treasurer for the church for many years.  His daughter, Stacy was married at Trinity, and his three granddaughters were all baptized there. 
Bob loved to spoil his grandchildren, surprise his wife, and remain loyal to his clients and friends.  He was the type of person who would spontaneously drive 3 hours each way to get a good hamburger and French fries at Alaska Stand in Ocean City.  And the type of person who would drop everything to help when you needed him.  After having two open heart surgeries in 1984 and 2000, Bob and his family always felt like they were on borrowed time – they are grateful for the 83 years he was able to be with them, loving and supporting them, and especially thankful he was able to see all of his grandchildren born and grown enough to have many memories with Pop-Pop.
Bob passed away of congestive heart failure in the early hours of Thursday, September 7th at Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.  Bob is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Sandy; his daughter, Stacy (Joe Kubofcik); his sons, Matt (Brooke) and Mark (Jessica); his grandchildren, Lucy, Drew, Maggie, and Skylar; his sister, Janice (Russell Hooper); and his nieces and nephews, Pam, Bobby, Dawn, and Joshua.