Tommy Edward Hopkins
Tommy Edward Hopkins passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2024 in Houston, Texas at the age of 88. He was born in Akron, Ohio to Frances Crutcher Cady and Novis Edward Hopkins.
Tom was an enthusiast of all Apollo and Space Shuttle missions. He took great pride in serving in the United States Air Force and NASA Space Program with excellence. He also enjoyed spending time with family and reading, playing chess and cards.
He is preceded in death by his first wife Barbara Ann Hall Hopkins and son Bruce Edward Hopkins.
He is survived by his wife Mary Ann Elkins Hopkins, his children Michael Kevin and Faith Hopkins, Tommie Alice and Johnnie Byers, Lori Ann Hopkins, Troy Allen Hopkins, Wendy Kay and Alexander Pantazis, his sister Louise Nahrwold and his 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held on March16, 2024 located at Baybrook Baptist Church, 15775 Hope Village Road, Friendswood, TX 77546. The service will commence at 2:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Tunnel to Towers Foundation, t2t.org.
Thinking of your family from so many miles away. From big sis Louise in Fort Wayne and Jim & Karen, Chris & Dan, Kim and Josh and Nikki Smith and Rachael & Ryan Johnson. We love you all!
We are so sorry for your loss and will keep your family in our prayers. Love y’all!
Very sorry to learn of Tommy’s passing. He was my co-worker in Test Requirements Group for the Space Shuttle program from 1988 to his retirement in May 2000. He really liked to come to work early (5:00 AM) which worked perfectly with our Downey CA sponsors to send afternoon (for them) information which Tommy could take action on before us regular workers showed up! I used to see him regularly after retirement until COVID reduced my trips to Houston from Dallas. He was a friend and a good SAIL teammate. I will miss him. My sincere condolences to Mary Ann and the rest of the family. B
My thoughts and prayers are with Tommy’s family at his passing. Tommy and I worked together as TCP writers in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Lab (SAIL) at JSC in the early 2000s. He was a lot of fun to work with. Like Bill Best, I remember his early start to the mornings, and I sometimes joked that he’d already done all the work by the time we arrived.
I also remember the times he called the Seabrook Kroger to talk to Mary Ann, the times he talked about his interest in cars (and tips for detailing cars), and the chats we had at SAIL luncheons and “Old Timers and Whippersnappers” gatherings after he retired and after the end of the Shuttle Program.
Rest in peace, old friend.