Barbara Ann Hopkins

Barbara Ann Bobst Hopkins, age 93

September 28, 1929 - January 1, 2023

Barbara Ann Bobst Hopkins, beloved wife and mother, was born in Portales, New Mexico, the third of five children to Roy Wilson Bobst and Ellen Elizabeth Kelly Bobst (Nell). She graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy Girl’s Catholic High School in Yakima, Washington and continued her education to become a Licensed Practical Nurse. While working at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane, Washington, a co-worker, her future mother-in-law, fixed her up with her son. They were married on October 11, 1952. Dale was enlisted in the Navy and so began the life of a military family. During his military career they lived in approximately 15 homes until his retirement in 1975 when they moved to Quartzsite, Arizona. Barb worked at the Quartzsite Post Office for 19 years as a temporary casual. After Dale’s death in 1992 she lived in Quartzsite several years until she moved to Silverdale, Washington to live with her daughter, Donna, and son-in-law, Ken. In 2016 she moved with her daughter and son-in-law to Gaithersburg, Maryland where she lived at the time of her passing.

She had a wonderful life growing up with her family. She remembered going to bed listening to her father whistling in the backyard. With train tracks behind their house, she and her siblings would wave to the trains transporting World War II soldiers. She also remembered holding the flashlight for her brother as he milked the family cow and helping to collect eggs each day. When she was 13 her father passed away and the family moved to Yakima to be near family. After their move, she had stories about her brothers’ practical jokes, and her older brother trying to teach her how to ride a bike and drive a car (she didn’t get her license until she was in her 40’s). She had equally happy memories of her sisters sharing typical teenage girl fun and then especially the times they were able to get together as giggling silly adults.

Her children never felt deprived of love by either parent. However, with her husband gone on many long military deployments, she found herself filling the role of a single military mother to six typically behaving (!!) children. She chose to be a stay-at-home mother. She kept a loving disciplined home. We didn’t always have everything we wanted but always had everything we needed. Every military move was looked at as an adventure. From north to south and east to west, there are many happy, silly, fun memories of the loving home she and dad created in each state we lived in. She was grandmother to 12 and great grandmother to six (the most recent born the day after her passing). Even though spread out over many states, during her senior years, her grandchildren and great grandchildren were fortunate to get to spend time getting to know her and feeling her love for them. Our memories are boundless, we wish there was room to share more! She was always the optimist and champion to the under-dog. She had many friends and enjoyed hobbies including puzzles, cards, games with her grandchildren, crocheting, and the Quilting Group at Silverdale Lutheran Church. She loved playing the penny machines at the casino. One of her favorite things was having a daily glass of wine. It is most fitting to picture her with her glass raised for one last CHEERS!!

Her faith and relationship with God were very important to her, she was raised Catholic and was a member of the Lutheran faith. Second to her faith was the love she had for her family.

The family thanks Margaret, Ayana and staff of George’s Assisted Living and Joy of Capitol Care Hospice for their dedicated loving care and support. Also Pastor Dave and Pastor Ted of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church for their pastoral care and support.

She is proceeded in death by her husband and infant son, James Roy, her parents, brothers Dick and Bob and sisters Mary and Margaret.

She is survived by her six children and their families:

Donna (Ken), (Bill), (Doug and Cathy, Ben, Erik, Isaac)

Sueann (Drew), (Kelly), (Coreen and Moss, Felix)

Cindy (John), (Santina), (Gina and Lucas, Eleanora), (Angeline and Shane)

Raymond (Michaela), (Schuyler)

Julie (Bernie), (Daniel and Jackie, Lily), (Gabriel)

Laura (David), (Jesse and Kayla), (Jacob)

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, March 18, 2023, 11:30 am at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 16420 S Westland Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Good Shepherd Endowment Fund. Checks, marked for Barbara Hopkins Memorial Fund, can be mailed to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Attention: Vicki Schmidt, 16420 S Westland Drive, Gaithersburg MD 20877.

Flowers may be ordered at www.luluflorist.com

Arrangements entrusted to Thibadeau Mortuary Service, p.a., 301-495-4950, www.interfaithfunerals.com