Ellsworth Hopkins

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Biography

Ellsworth Oscar Hopkins was born on Tuesday, March 5, 1918 in Niagara Falls, Niagara County, New York. He was the third of seven children born in the family of Oscar Donald Hopkins (Tuesday, March 4, 1890 - Tuesday, May 20, 1947) and Lottie Mabel Bliss Hopkins (Sunday, September 11, 1892 - Thursday, April 28, 1960). Ozzie, as he was known, was the oldest of their four sons.

The family had moved from the Emporium-Johnsonburg, Pennsylvania area for his father's new employment at the Shredded Wheat Company in Niagara Falls. After about five years the family returned to Johnsonburg, and then by 1926 settled in Erie, Pennsylvania. In Erie his father began employment as a punch press operator at the Erie Malleable Iron Co.

Ellsworth attended Erie East High School through tenth grade. When he left school in 1933 he became a messenger for the Western Union Telegraph Co., a job he held for three years during The Depression. On Sunday, September 26, 1937, he married Virginia Starsmere in Ripley, Chautauqua County, New York. He was nineteen years old, she was seventeen years old. They raised three children: Barbara Ruth, born on Monday, May 2, 1938; John Ellsworth, born on Monday, August 14, 1939; and James Michael, born on Saturday, October 14, 1950.

By the end of the 1930's he began an apprentice program for the Chester J. Seelar Vertical Transportation Co. That led to long term employment with the firm. Later in his working career Ozzie worked for Otis Elevator. His final year was a difficult one due to a freak accident. He lost his balance while backing into an elevator because the building floor was an inch or two higher than the elevator floor. He fell backwards and broke his back. The accident caused him to retire on disability.

His final years were spent living at the Pennsylvania Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at 560 East Third Street in Erie. He had not served in any branch of the military. He passed away at that location on Wednesday, June 1, 1983. At Ellsworth's request his ashes were scattered over Presque Isle State Park.

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Sources

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