N D Hopkins

N D Hopkins, 83, long-time Realtor/Builder in Grand Prairie, entered into eternal life on Saturday evening, August 31, 2013 at his home surrounded by family. N.D. Hopkins was born September 28, 1929 in Burfordville, Missouri. He was the first of six children born to Noah Dillard Hopkins and Sarah Beulah Dockins Hopkins. He often joked that since he was born during the depression, they didn't have enough money for a whole name, just the initials. He was born to a farming family and the work ethic leaned at a young age carried on through the rest of his life. He graduated from Jackson High School in 1948, and joined the Naval Reserve shortly after that. He married Katie Stroud in 1951 and stared a family. During the Korean war, N.D. (known as Noah in the Navy because you had to have a name) served on the U.S.S. Missouri. In 1958, N.D. was transferred to Dallas Naval Air Station while on active duty with the Navy and moved his growing family to Grand Prairie, where they remained throughout his entire Naval career and beyond. He was always an entrepreneur and made a deal with the Base Commander at one time to cut and bale the tall grass on the vacant land of the base. The Chief got good, fresh hay for the horse he owned, and the base got land mowed without having to pay for it. During his entire service career, N.D. enjoyed his position as an Electronics Technician. While still in the Navy, he became a Realtor in 1963. He became a builder in 1967 , shortly after leaving the Navy in 1966. Part of N.D.'s great joy was getting people in to a home of their own, whether he built it for them or sold them a listed property. He was very active in the Grand Prairie Board of Realtors, serving as President in 1974. He also served a term as the state Realtor Representative from Grand Prairie. At the time of his death, he had been an active Real Estate Broker for 50 years and was a member of the MetroTex Association of Realtors. N.D. believed in the dream of home ownership, but knew there were also people who needed homes on a temporary basis so he began acquiring houses to rent as well as managing rental property for others. N.D. was a multi-generational landlord, sometimes renting to the grown children and grandchildren of previous renters. At the time of his death, N.D. held the position of the Honored Life Director on the Board of Directors the Dallas Builders Association, the Texas Association of Builders, and the National Association of Home Builders. He strove at all times to not only become a better builder, but to make the industry as a whole stronger and better. In 1992 he was the recipient of the Hugh Prather Award, which is given to a home builder that has contributed most to the betterment of the Greater Dallas Region. In 2011, he received the Ted Scholossman Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Association of Builders. In 2012, the Dallas Builders Association honored him with a scholarship in his name through the Texas Builders Foundation for students in the building trades. He was a charter member of the Dallas Naval Air Station Credit Union, and served on the Board of Directors for 9 years until they merged with Navy Federal Credit Union. He was also a member of the Lions Clubs International for several years. He was Past President of the Grand Prairie Host Lions Club, and at the time of his death, was serving as Treasurer of that Club. He was a long time member of the Grand Prairie Chamber of Commerce, serving on both the Highways, Aviation and Transportation Committee and the Government and Legislative Affairs Committees for many years. He also served on the City of Grand Prairie Building Board of Adjustment and Appeals for 6 years and the Grand Prairie Board of Zoning Adjustments and Appeals for 3 years. N.D. was a member of First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie from 1959 until his death. Along with being a deacon, he also served on many committees through the years, was active in Brotherhood, and worked in both the children's and youth divisions, serving as secretary for the third grade until 2007. From 1985-1995, N.D. was co-chairman of the Grand Prairie telephone center for the MDA Labor Day Telethon. His specialty was getting all of the restaurants in Grand Prairie to donate food so the workers could be fed throughout the night and the next day. After the first year, there was no problem getting volunteers to work the telethon! N.D. received his Master Mason degree in 1961 and became a member of Sam R. Hamilton Lodge in Grand Prairie. He served on a variety of committees within the lodge over the years, including the Military Degree Team in Blue Lodge. He also held various offices in the local lodge. In 1999 he received the Golden Trowel Award for long time service to the community. In 2011, he received his 50 year membership pen. He was a member of the Scottish Rite and Hella Shrine Temple. He was also a long time member of the Order of the Eastern Star and served 3 terms as Worthy Patron of OES Chapter 219 in Grand Prairie. N.D. and his family enjoyed visiting the ladies who lived at the Eastern Star Retirement Center in Arlington, and from 1981-1999, he would dress as Santa to go have his picture taken with the residents every Christmas. It became a highlight of the Christmas season, both for the residents, and for Santa and his helpers. N.D. was a member of the Grand Prairie Historical Organization and was instrumental in restoring the Goodwin Cabin and relocating it to Cottonwood Park in Grand Prairie. He was a member of the Grand Prairie Crime Commission for many years. In 1998 he spearheaded an effort by local business people to purchase a horse trailer for the newly formed mounted patrol of the Grand Prairie Police Department. N.D. Hopkins passed away on August 31, 2013 while surrounded by family He was preceded in death by his parents, Noah and Sarah B. Hopkins, his brother, Harold Gene Hopkins, and his first wife, Katie Hopkins. He is survived by his wife, Betty Christensen Hopkins, his children Veronica Hopkins, Ron Hopkins and wife Diane, Gary Hopkins and wife Denise, Tex Hopkins and wife Elizabeth, and Kathy Hopkins Ellis and husband Mike. Grandchildren; Gary Michael Hopkins and wife Allison, Ginger Standridge and husband Joe, Candy Marcum and husband James, Tice Hopkins and wife April, Joshua Hopkins, Jessica Brost and husband Matt, Blake Hopkins and wife Kim, Heather Grace Ellis, Justin Faith Ellis, and R.J. Adams and twelve great-grandchildren He is also survived by Betty's sons, Dale Christensen and wife Suzanne and Larry Christensen and wife Carol and their children, John Christensen and wife Bessie Ann, Rachel Powell and husband Eddie, Levi Christensen and Lancer Christensen, two sons of Elizabeth, Nick Amos and Cody Amos. Also by two sisters, Diana Hopkins Caramico and Delores Hopkins Poulos; two brothers, Ora Lee Hopkins and wife Helen, Terry Lane Hopkins and wife Janet and a large number of other relatives and friends. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Guerrero-Dean Funeral Home, 500 E. Main Street, Grand Prairie. Funeral: 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5, 2013 at First Baptist Church of Grand Prairie, 122 NE 2nd Street, Grand Prairie, 75050. Burial: 9:15 a.m. Friday at DFW National Cemetery with Military Honors. The family request donations be given in N.D.'s name to the Children's Scottish Rite Hospital at http://www.tsrhc.org or the Texas Association of Home Builders N.D. Hopkins Scholarship Fund.

N D Hopkins

September 28, 1929 - August 31, 2013