Marlin R. Hopkins

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Biography

Richard Marlin "Buddy" Hopkins was born on Thursday, December 2, 1926, in Erie, Erie County, Pennsylvania. He was the seventh of seven children born to Oscar Donald Hopkins (Tuesday, March 4, 1890 - Tuesday, May 20, 1947) and Lottie Mabel Bliss Hopkins (Sunday, September 11, 1892 - Thursday, April 28, 1960). His parents had moved to Erie from Johnsonburg, Elk County, PA earlier in 1926 with two infant children, Buddy's sister, Ruthe, and brother, Neale. In Erie his father began employment as a punch press operator at the Erie Malleable Iron Co.

The following edited comments come from Buddy's oldest daughter, Sherry Kosciuch. He was an unwanted child. Grandmother Lottie was so upset about being pregnant again that she refused to speak to Grandpa the whole time she was pregnant. When Dad came into this world his mother had nothing prepared for a new born babe. No "nappies" as the diapers were called, no bottles, no clothes, no crib. She just informed her eldest daughter, Edith, to take care of "it."

It was an awesome responsibility. The baby, 2 1/2 lbs., clothed in a receiving blanket, was called "my little buddy" by his twelve year old sister. Edith literally was his mother since their mother wouldn't have anything to do with him as a child. It was the Great Depression, food was scarce, jobs were being lost, and poverty became the norm. Starting while she was in high school Edith had a good job at the Erie Central Markethouse and contributed to family welfare. When she later left the home, Orville, Buddy's brother, took over where she left off. My father was legally blind as a child and got his first glasses when he went to school. He was raised as a Seventh Day Adventist and went to a church school. It was a church school teacher that noticed he couldn't see. The Society for the Blind in Erie bought him his first pair of glasses. He completed elementary school in 1940. He delivered newspapers as a young man and later in life became a proud member of the Times Old Newsies Association.

After completing the tenth grade Buddy enlisted for military service on Thursday, January 25, 1945. Beginning Sunday, August 19, 1945, he was assigned to foreign service and was stationed in Hiroshima for the cleanup detail required after the atomic bomb was dropped there. Buddy was honorably discharged and separated from active service on Wednesday, November 6, 1946, at Fort Meade, Maryland. Three weeks later on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 1946, Buddy and Frances Louise Gunther were married in the home of Frances' father at 2802 McClelland Avenue in Erie, PA.

Dad was raised as a Seventh Day Adventist and my mother was raised as a Catholic. They both became members of the Lamb of God Lutheran Church located at 606 East 38th Street in Erie, PA. Dad drove the church bus while his wife taught a Sunday School class. Dad became an electronic tech and was an amateur radio hobbyist (operator license # Wa3trj). Buddy was an active member of the Lakes Ranger Radio Club. He became known as the man who could repair any television. His employment however began as a machinist at Erie Meter Works. They had two daughters, Sherry Lynne (Kosciuch) born Sunday, August 31, 1947; and Diane Louise (Conley) born on Thursday, September 21, 1950. Their daughters were raised at 3834 Parade Boulevard. For many years Buddy's mother, Lottie, in an ironic turn of fate, lived with them.

Dad's hobby in the 1950's was raising canaries. He entered them in bird shows and won many awards for Best of Show, Best of Breed, and Best of Song. Dad had a strong bass singing voice and loved to sing songs with his children. He also taught his daughters both how to ride, and how not to ride, bicycles.

In retirement Buddy and Fran moved to Leesville, Lexington County, South Carolina to live near their daughter's home and grandchildren. In September 1988 Buddy received a medical report indicating he had an inoperable aneurysm. He had been teaching his grandson, Jeremy Kosciuch, how to drive a car with a standard transmission. He promised him if it was the last thing he did, he would take his grandson to take his driving test. On Saturday, October 8, 1988 they went to the South Carolina Department of Highways test center. Jeremy passed with ease. Two days later on Monday, October 10, 1988, my father died of congestive heart failure.

His wife, Fran, passed away seventeen years later on Sunday, December 4, 2005. They are buried together at the Lowville Cemetery in Wattsburg, Erie County, PA.

Sources

• George H. Schauer, firsthand knowledge. Click the Changes tab for the details of edits by George H. and others.