WILLIAM HOPKINS, 59, OF FALMOUTH; ACTIVE IN COMMUNITY AND VFW POST

William K. Hopkins suffered from a serious heart condition but it didn't stop him from getting things done.

"I've been the VFW commander for five of the last seven years and he was my right-hand man," said Herbert Ball, Mr. Hopkins' friend and associate in the Falmouth Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1978.

"He was right behind me on every project we took on. We're going to miss him. It's a loss to the community, as well as to the VFW and his friends," said Ball.

Mr. Hopkins, 59, of Falmouth, died Saturday at St. Luke Hospital East. Mr. Hopkins had undergone two open-heart surgeries, in 1970 and in 1981, said his wife, Judy. He was retired as an employee of the American Laundry Co., Cincinnati.

The heart ailment didn't stop Mr. Hopkins from taking part in many community activities.

In addition to his involvement with the VFW post, where he was a past commander, he also was a past president of the Pendleton County Sportsman's Club, a member of the Amateur Trapshooters Association and a former Butler volunteer fireman.

Mr. Hopkins was a paratrooper during the Korean War, during which he received a Purple Heart.

"He did what he could for the VFW around the county and other places. He also won quite a few trap shoots, and had the trophies and pictures from it all," said Mrs. Hopkins.

"We were close friends and fishing buddies for at least 10 years," said Ball. "The simple fact is, he was a heck of a nice guy."

Many people in Falmouth, Butler and Pendleton County knew Mr. Hopkins, Ball said, because of his personality and involvement in community activities. "Every time the VFW had a project you could count on him, like barbecuing the lamb at the Wool Festival," Ball said.

Besides his wife, survivors include daughters, Karen Burgoyne of St. Bernard and Diana Hopkins, at home; stepdaughters, Lisa Marquardt of Falmouth, Debbie Wright and Donna Wright, both at home; a stepson, David Wright, at home; sisters, Florine Kearns of Anderson, Ind., and Jewel Oehler of Ohio; two grandsons, two step-granddaughters and one step-grandson.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Peoples Funeral Home, Falmouth. Visitation will be there from 5 to 9 tonight. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Falmouth.