Leon Hopkins

Evan Leon Hopkins, 86, of Summerville, South Carolina, passed away peacefully on 12 November 2025. Born on 13 March 1939 in Emporia, Kansas, Leon was the son of the late Bertha Mae Brown and the late Evan Lloyd “Bud” Hopkins. Leon was also preceded in death by his first-born son, Kyle Wayman Hopkins, and his older brother and closest friend, Ronald “Ron” Hopkins. Leon is survived by his wife of 59 years, Patricia Jane Taber Hopkins; his brothers Kenneth “Ken” and William “Bill” Hopkins; his daughter, Diane Hopkins Walls; and his sons John Evan Hopkins and Kevin Leon Hopkins. Leon lived a full and wonderful life filled with love of family and friends, amazing accomplishments, and varied experiences. Leon’s life can best be encapsulated by four “F” words: Family, Friends, Forever Learning, and Fun. In his almost 87 years here with us, he experienced an abundance of each.

Family: Leon spent his early years in Kansas and California, living with his adoring mother, Bertha. Having witnessed the honor and stability of service to our country by his father, Bud and uncles, Gene and Art Hopkins before him, Leon enlisted into the United States Marine Corps at age 17, and served honorably as an Optical Repair Technician until his contract was completed. He was very proud of his service and equally proud of his son-in-law, Arnold “Arnie” Walls, and his granddaughter, Catherine Walls, who have also earned the title of “United States Marine”.

When Leon was introduced to Patricia Taber on a blind date on April Fools Day of 1966, he quickly knew that he had met the person with whom he would build his life and continued family. Married just 6 months later in October of 1966, Leon and Patricia maintained a loving and supportive marriage of 59 years. Together they raised their two children, Diane and John, and when custody permitted, also helped raise Leon’s sons Kyle and Kevin. Leon regularly engaged with the extended family, which includes the children’s spouses, Arnie Walls, Cynthia Hopkins, and Julie Hopkins. His crowning glory was the arrival of grandchildren: Cole Hopkins, Justin Walls, Ryan and his wife Lauren Hopkins, Hunter and his wife Nicole Walls, Chase and his wife Abbey Walls, Catherine Walls, and Nathan Hopkins. He was also recently blessed with the arrivals of his great-grandchildren, Hazel and August Walls. Leon also had endearing relationships with many of his nephews and nieces, including Michael Hopkins, Mark Hopkins, Debra Hopkins Pogue, Linda Hopkins Isbell, Lynette Stone, and Bruce Slesher.

Friends: Leon’s gregarious personality allowed him to make friends quickly and easily. He loved to instigate moments of joy and laughter. He cherished his friendships, developing them at each stage of his life, with most of these lasting the remainder of his life. His friendships encompassed all aspects of life, and each was special to him. From phone call chats to joint family outings, to sharing informal and formal meals and entertaining, to class reunions, to adventures near and far, to helping in times of sadness and difficulty, Leon was up for it all. He was known not just for enjoying his friendships, but for being a good friend as well.

Forever Learning and Fun: Leon maintained a love of learning throughout his life. His constant thirst for knowledge and insatiable curiosity led him down the path to a successful career as a Mechanical Engineer. He received a number of patents for his ideas and inventions in the product manufacturing arena. This “insatiable curiosity”, combined with his adventurous spirit, kept him sharper and younger than his years. Whether it was learning to fly an airplane, drive a boat, build a hang glider, operate as a Ham Radio Operator, or teaching himself how to play an instrument, from piano to saxophone, or building clocks, electronic photo boxes, and helpful gadgets for family and friends, he was always up to trying or creating new things.

Leon was grateful to have lived a long life, full of wonderful experiences, as well as a loving family, and many cherished friends, both near and far. He truly embodied the adage of “a life well lived.”

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, November 15, 2025, at Live Oak Memorial Gardens in Charleston, SC.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 2501 Bees Ferry Road, Chareston, SC 29414, (843) 722-8371.