Alden S. Hopkins Jr., 83 LEWES - Alden S. Hopkins Jr., age 83, was born near Lewes, on May 11, 1926, to Alden S. Hopkins, Sr. and Margaret Reynolds Hopkins. He died at home on Nov. 7, 2009. Alden was a lifetime farmer on the family farm near Coolspring. He was a Licensed Local Pastor in the former Peninsula Conference of the United Methodist Church, serving churches in the Bridgeville, Greenwood and Harrington areas during the late 1940's and 1950's. He served as Delaware Secretary of Agriculture 1979-1980 during the Pete DuPont administration. He was a 32nd Degree Mason, Grand Lodge Award of Honor recipient, served 35 years as Chaplain of Jefferson Lodge AF & AM, member of the Shriners, Delaware Valley of Scottish Rite, and Lower Delaware Shield & Square. Alden was on the board of Delaware Agricultural Lands Preservation Foundation. He was a member of Improved Order of Red Men, Indian River Tribe #37. Alden was a founder and lifetime member of the Farmington Volunteer Fire Company, a past Vice-President of the Delaware Farm Bureau, and a member and long-time adult Sunday school teacher at Conley's United Methodist Church. Alden was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Marilyn Bown Hopkins in 2004. He is survived by his brothers, William N. Hopkins and George W. Hopkins of Lewes; and sisters, Grace H. Hitch, and Gladys H. Phillips of Seaford. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 11, at Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, 16961 Kings Highway, Lewes. Friends may call at the funeral home on Tuesday evening, 6 to 8 p.m. with Masonic Services at 7 p.m. Interment will be at Conley's U.M. Church Cemetery near Angola. The Rev. Michael Hurley will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Highland Masonic Home of Delaware, Inc., 4800 Lancaster Pike, Wilmington, DE 19807-9985. Sign guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.