No headline

Richard Alan Hoopman, 75

Richard Alan “Dick” Hoopman left this life for the loving arms of his Savior on March 15, 2019, at the age of 75, due to aspiration pneumonia, a complication of Parkinson’s disease. He was born in Darby, Pa., on July 15, 1943, to parents Spencer and Ida (Lamborn) Hoopman. He grew up in Springfield, Pa., and graduated from Springfield High School in 1961. In 1965 he graduated from Grove City College (Pa.) with a B.A. in political science. In college, he was a member of the Air Force ROTC program for four years and was commissioned as a second lieutenant upon graduation. He trained at Vandenburg Air Base (Calif.) and was then stationed at McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kan. He rose to the rank of captain and was a missile launch officer in a Titan II missile silo. After four years of service, he left the Air Force and was hired by Xerox Corporation, where he worked until he became disabled from young-onset Parkinson’s disease. Dick began in sales but flourished as an administrative manager with his teams contributing, for two different years and at two different branches, to making their branches No. 1 in the country.

Dick was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, uncle and best friend, and an amazing role model for so many who knew him.

For 35 years he courageously and tirelessly battled Parkinson’s, earning the admiration of all who knew him, and inspiring many by his example.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents and his sister-in-law, Lillian (Burris) Hoopman.

He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Judy (Earl) Hoopman; his son and wife, Todd and Jennifer Hoopman and granddaughters, Rachel and Kate Hoopman, all of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; his son and wife, Scott Hoopman and Alexia Rodriguez and grandchildren, Ella and Enzo Hoopman, all of Austin, Texas; his brother, Robert Hoopman of Charleston, S.C.; his nephew and wife, Brad and Stephanie Hoopman and sons, Jack, James and Josiah, all of West Chester, Pa.; nephew and wife, John and Jane Hoopman and children, Connor, Julia and Leah, all of Middletown, Del.; and sister-in-law and husband, Barbara and Jim Steffensen and children, Peter Steffensen of Austin, Texas, and Sarah Steffensen of Vail, Colo.

A memorial service officiated by the Rev. George Lumpkin will be held at the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 12, 2019. Organ music will be provided by Judy Hickerson and a duet will be sung by the Rev. Jacqui Lirette and husband Chris. Inurnment of the ashes in the Memory Garden Columbarium at the church will follow the service. Lastly, the loving members of his Sunday school class will provide lunch in the fellowship hall.

The family suggests in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777; the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church Foundation, 1800 N. Llano, Fredericksburg, TX 78624; the Harvard Brain Tissue Resource Center, McLean Hospital, Mailstop 138, 115 Mill St., Belmont, MA 02478; or to a charity of your choice.