Bruce Allen Hopkins was born on January 17, 1947, to Oliver and Letha Hopkins in Cherokee, Oklahoma. He spent his childhood in Jet, Oklahoma, a small farming community. He attended Jet schools and graduated from Jet High School in 1965. While in high school he played football, basketball and ran track for the Jet Tigers while also participating in FFA activities.
In 1966 Bruce joined the United States Air Force and served until 1970. In his last year of service, he was stationed at Da Nang Air Base in Vietnam.
On August 1, 1970, Bruce married Sherry Ann Robertson in Enid, Oklahoma, and they established their first home in Hydro, Oklahoma. Bruce attended Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management in 1974. After completing his degree, they moved to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, where he was employed by Farmland Industries as a manager trainee at the Pauls Valley Co-op. In 1978 Bruce began a new career with State Farm Insurance and moved to Watonga, Oklahoma, to start a new agency. There was a move to Enid in 1989, and Bruce became a State Farm agency manager and worked with other agents to grow their agencies. Then in 1995 Bruce and his family moved to Edmond where he finished his career as a State Farm Agent, retiring in 2013 after a 35-year career. Bruce enjoyed helping people with their insurance needs and working with fellow agents. During his career, there were many opportunities to travel to see the world. Out of all the travel, his favorite place to go was Red River, New Mexico. From his first trip in 1970 for his honeymoon to the last trip in 2021, Red River held his heart. He loved the cool mountain air, the beautiful scenery and wading the streams fishing for rainbow trout.
Bruce was always a lover of the outdoors. From the time he was small, goose hunting in his neighbors' fields in Jet, Bruce's life revolved around what hunting season was open in Oklahoma. From archery, black powder to rifle, he has always been an avid hunter. When not hunting, he could be found on a lake bass fishing or on the river channel catfishing.
Bruce's commitment to the Lord and his church was another important aspect of his life. Bruce has been a member of Edmond's First Baptist Church for many years and enjoyed serving on various committees and in the deacon ministry. He was always willing to help others and loved serving wherever he was needed.
Bruce is survived by his wife of 54 years, Sherry; his daughters Amber Moulton and her husband, Matt; and Alyssa Porter and her husband, Michael. He was very proud to be called Papa by his grandchildren: Aidan Ivy, Abby Ivy, Alex Ivy, Harvey Porter, Rowan Porter and Gentry Moulton.
To know Bruce was to love him. With his gentle nature and fun-loving spirit, he was a joy to be around.
In lieu of flowers pleas make memorial contributions to the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children.
Visitation will be held Friday, June 20, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond, Oklahoma, with family present to greet friends and guests.
Services will be held Saturday, June 21, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at Edmond's First Baptist Church, 1300 E 33rd St, Edmond, OK 73013. Interment will follow at Gracelawn Cemetery in Edmond, Oklahoma.