DOVER - John Stewart Hopkins, Jr., formerly of Smyrna, died Mar. 19, 2017, at Brookdale Senior Living Facility, Dover, after an extended period of declining health. At the time of his passing, John was believed to be the oldest resident living at Brookdale.
Born March 27, 1918, in Newark, he was the son of the late John S. and Mabel G. Hopkins, of Newark. He also was preceded in death by his wife, Lucy Jane Hartman, who passed away in 1957; and his beloved companion, Melva R. Hughes, who died Jan. 4, 2017.
John graduated from Goldey Business College in Wilmington, in 1936. From 1941 to 1969, he was an accountant for E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., and later worked as an accountant for Delaware State College and the State of Delaware.
He was an avid waterfowl hunter and decoy collector, who enjoyed hunting the marshlands of Delaware as well as the farmlands of Maryland's Eastern Shore. John loved to spot large flocks of wintering snow geese during his travels around the region, and he was a close friend of noted decoy makers, Lem and Steve Ward, of Crisfield, Md. He shared many correspondences with the Wards through the years. In his younger days, John also raised and trained Chesapeake Bay Retrievers.
When he wasn't hunting, John enjoyed working on and spending time at his cottage at Prime Hook Beach on the Delaware Bay near Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge. He also loved to play the slots at Dover Downs Casino, and he also had interest in the stock market and thoroughbred racing.
John is survived by his daughter, Joan H. Hammond and her husband, George, of York, Pa.; grandchildren, Alyson H. Brabitz, (Jeff), Angela H. Mangum, (Cole), and A. J. Hammond, (Gabe); and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 12:30 p.m., on Wednesday, Mar. 22, 2017, at R. T. Foard and Jones Life Celebration Home, 122 West Main Street, Newark, DE 19711. Visitation will begin at 11:30 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, in care of the funeral home. To send online condolences, please visit www.rtfoard.com