Last Updated on January 7, 2018 by cassnetwork
Harold Walter Hopper, 88, Logansport, passed away at 6:25 a.m. Wednesday, January 3, 2018, in Coventry Meadows, Fort Wayne. Born August 6, 1929, in Logansport, he was the son of the late George and Florence Hopper.
Harold attended Logansport High School but in 1946, at age 17, he convinced his mother to sign papers for his enlistment in the U.S. Army, leaving high school in the early part of the 10th grade.
Following basic training, he traveled to Seattle to board a Liberty Ship for Yokohama, Japan. After a rough Pacific voyage, he spent a week in a Tent City. where he joined the 11th Airborne Division. He shipped out to Honshu, Japan where he endured extremely cold winter conditions. Harold then advanced as a member of the 187th Glider Infantry Regiment, Company A, 2nd Platoon. After several weeks of exhausting parachute training, Harold won his wings making five parachute jumps from a C-46 airplane
After 18 months in the Army, he returned home working at Standard Auto Parts and the Spring Company on Burlington Avenue. In the fall of 1948, Harold decided to return to high school and finish his degree. He was given credits for the time spent in the Army.
Having applied for a draftsman job, RBM called and asked, “Have you finished high school? If he finished in time, he had the job. Harold Mertz told him about a new program called “GED” that would issue a diploma after successfully completing the exams. After two days of testing in Indianapolis, Harold became the first person in Logansport to receive a GED.
Harold went to work at RBM as a design engineer, which is where Harold met Marcella Duff.. It was love at first sight. Their first date was Dec. 26, 1948, and two months later, they were married on Feb. 26th.
The newlyweds lived in an apartment that left much to be desired. Harold promised his wife he would build her a beautiful home someday. In 1950, Harold found a lot and set out to build their home, doing all of the construction himself.
After building their home, he assembled a work crew and built ten more houses before leaving RBM in 1961. Hopper Construction was founded on Harold’s strong work ethic and integrity. Since those humble beginnings, Hopper Construction has built 502 houses in Logansport. The houses are mostly in Indian Hills, Virginia Heights, Yorktown Road, Willow Woods, The Landing, Windsor Forest and Waters Edge.
Surviving with his wife of nearly 69 years, Marcella Hopper, are three children: Donna (Mark) Jones, Syracuse, Sharon (Clyde) Killian, Dubuque, IA and Dan Hopper, Fort Wayne; eleven grandchildren: Alison (Joe) Bash, Zionsville, Adrienne (Chris) Rupright, Fort Wayne, Elaine (Mark) Moses-Christen, Fort Wayne, Hannah (Tarique Williams) Jones, Cape Coral, FL, Sarah (Davey Gilles) Jones, Omaha, NE, Michael (Emily) Killian, Oregon, WI, Alanna (Tom) Callahan, Dubuque, IA, Paul (Alicia) Killian, Greenwood, Nathan Hopper, Indianapolis, Nick Hopper and Noah Hopper, both ofFishers; twenty great-grandchildren: Mara Bash, Becka Bash, Greta Bash, Ella Rupright, Sampson Rupright, Vivienne Rupright, Evangeline Moses, Alden Moses, Oscar Christen, Donna Jones Williams, Oliver Jones Williams, Michael Wes O’Connor, Elijah Callahan, Ethan Callahan, William Callahan, Owen Callahan, Eleanor Callahan, Anna Callahan, Kairi Jackson, and Thomas Killian; one sister, Wanda (Bob) Simpson, New Tazewell, TN; and several nephews and nieces.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, Harry Hopper and Robert Hopper; and three sisters, Faye Owens, Delores Hoover and Ruth Bowyer-Lohrman.
A Masonic service will be held at 2:45 p.m. Friday, January 12 in Fisher Funeral Chapel followed by a funeral service at 3 p.m. celebrating Harold’s life.
Burial, with full military honors, will be in Mount Hope Cemetery.
Friends will be received from 1-2:45 p.m. next Friday, January 12 prior to the service in the funeral chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army, Alzheimer’s Association or the Cass County Humane Society.
You may share memories and view Harold’s video on his tribute page at www.fisherfuneralchapel.com