The Life of Russell Leroy Hopping
Russell LeRoy Hopping, age 91, of Roswell, Georgia
died April 15, 2009, while with his children.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janet. Survivors include his daughter, Janet Melinda Hopping of Sandy Springs, Georgia; son William Russell Hopping, daughter-in-law Catherine Kimball Hopping, grandson William Alexander Hopping, all of Littleton, Colorado; his nieces, Gloria Webb Rigling and Irma Lee Webb, both of Orlando, Florida, as well as numerous grand nieces and nephews.
He was the son of Ernest LeRoy and Minnie Wiest Hopping of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Russ was a beloved father, grandfather, and uncle, and all who knew him loved his kind and gentle nature.
Mr. Hopping graduated from Cornell University, did graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, and attained the rank of Major in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he worked on the development and testing of several weapons and weapon systems critical to the Allied war effort.
Following the war he worked for the Glenn L. Martin Company, now known as Lockheed Martin. Mr. Hopping was a member of the design team for the Martin Matador, one of the first missiles developed following the war. His work on Matador included developing fixed-platform launch systems that were the first generation of today's systems. Later he worked in the space program, designing the docking mechanism for the Skylab space station, and obtaining a patent on the design of landing gear for the manned Apollo moon missions.
A memorial service will be held in the historic chapel of Roswell Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 25 at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church following the service.
A private interment will be held at Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.
In lieu of flowers please send contributions to Altus House Hospice, 5411 Northland Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30342.
died April 15, 2009, while with his children.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Janet. Survivors include his daughter, Janet Melinda Hopping of Sandy Springs, Georgia; son William Russell Hopping, daughter-in-law Catherine Kimball Hopping, grandson William Alexander Hopping, all of Littleton, Colorado; his nieces, Gloria Webb Rigling and Irma Lee Webb, both of Orlando, Florida, as well as numerous grand nieces and nephews.
He was the son of Ernest LeRoy and Minnie Wiest Hopping of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Russ was a beloved father, grandfather, and uncle, and all who knew him loved his kind and gentle nature.
Mr. Hopping graduated from Cornell University, did graduate work at Johns Hopkins University, and attained the rank of Major in the U.S. Army during World War II, where he worked on the development and testing of several weapons and weapon systems critical to the Allied war effort.
Following the war he worked for the Glenn L. Martin Company, now known as Lockheed Martin. Mr. Hopping was a member of the design team for the Martin Matador, one of the first missiles developed following the war. His work on Matador included developing fixed-platform launch systems that were the first generation of today's systems. Later he worked in the space program, designing the docking mechanism for the Skylab space station, and obtaining a patent on the design of landing gear for the manned Apollo moon missions.
A memorial service will be held in the historic chapel of Roswell Presbyterian Church on Saturday, April 25 at 1:00 p.m. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church following the service.
A private interment will be held at Arlington Cemetery, Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.
In lieu of flowers please send contributions to Altus House Hospice, 5411 Northland Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30342.
