Richard "Dick" Hopper

RICHARD DALE HOPPER

Pendleton

August 9, 1945 - November 8, 2020

Richard Dale Hopper, 75, passed away unexpectedly on the banks of the Snake River, near Oxbow, OR, while on a camping, fishing weekend trip, on November 8, 2020. He died peacefully with the sounds of nature all around him.

Dick was born on August 9, 1945, in Lamar, CO. The youngest of four children born to John and Lydia (Steinley) Hopper, he was raised and attended school in Greeley, CO.

Dick met Shirley Gerton while she was working at City Hall in 1980. They married on December 31, 1988, at the Chapel of the Bells in Reno and shared almost 32 wonderful years of marriage.

Dick is survived by his wife, Shirley; daughters Kristy (Todd) Crum, Welling OK.; Cindy Hopper, Pendleton; and Patricia (Norv) Landrum, Pendleton; sisters Beverly Taylor and Donna Allbritton, both of Grand Junction CO; and sister-in-law Peggy Hopper, Grove OK. Surviving grandchildren include Joshua (Karen) Robarge, Kayla Clark, Osa (Adam) Lange, Ana (Jarred) Cope, and Jonathan (Phyllis) Clark. Great-Grandchildren, Mariea, Sophia, Matthew, Noah, Evan, Savanah, and Jonathan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Stanley Hopper, and brothers-in-law Owen Taylor and Tony Allbritton.

Dick was a very caring, giving person who was extremely proud of his family. He loved to be outdoors, whether he was camping, fishing, bow hunting, or just hiking in the woods. He enjoyed golfing, playing poker, and working in his garden.

Dick served in the Air Force from 1962 to 1966. Following his discharge, he began his career in the fire service. He joined the LaGrande Fire Department in 1966 and was Asst. Chief/Fire Marshal when he resigned. In 1977, he moved his family to Albany, OR, where he was acting Chief, resigning in 1980.

In February 1980, he became Pendleton’s Fire Chief. He was the fifth paid Chief, and the third since 1932. He continued to attend educational classes, including an executive development class at the National Fire Academy. Dick retired in 2000, ending a 34-year career in the fire service. He received recognition for 20 years of service to the Round-Up Association.

A member of the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association, Dick was installed as President for 1990-91. He was the first President from Eastern Oregon since former Pendleton Fire Chief Blackie Batchelor held that post in 1940. We enjoyed many travels throughout Oregon during his years as an officer on the OFCA Board.

In 1984 Dick joined the Kiwanis Club of Pendleton. In 1990-91, he served as President, and in 1998 was named Pendeton’s Kiwanian of the Year. He was active in Kiwanis, working on many service and community projects. He received a Hixson Fellow award in 2001. He served Kiwanis and our community until 2006.

Dick joined the Pendleton Country Club in 1984. Over the years he golfed several days a week. Early in his golfing career he could frequently be found with a five-gallon bucket of golf balls practicing at the driving range. He had six holes-in-one. He served a term on the Board of Directors, and in early 2005, he volunteered as Interim Manager for a few months.

He participated several times in the Police and Fire World Games (a sporting event for police and firefighters with an Olympics format held every two years in various places around the world). Those travels took us to many places, including New York City and Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Dick was a member of the Thursday Night Gathering, Pendleton Professional Poker Players. He also enjoyed playing poker at Wildhorse, advancing to the final table in one Spring and two Fall major poker tournaments.

In 2018, he began woodworking and the art of inlay. He made many pieces, from a Santa, birds, abstracts, animals and more. He shared several of his creations with friends. When encouraged to sell them he said then it would be a job. He simply enjoyed sharing.

Dick was proud of his Volga German history. In 2013 we traveled to Europe and Russia to see where his family originated. His sister, Donna Allbritton, joined us on that adventure.

We enjoyed travel and visited many places in the U.S. and especially the trips to the Oregon coast and throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Dick led a life full of adventure and accomplishments. He was a family man who taught his daughters and others that you can do anything you want in life if you choose to invest your time to do it well.  As a role model, he did just that and lived life on his own terms with few compromises. He is missed dearly by his family, friends and the community.

There will be a Celebration of Life on June 18, 2022, 1:00 pm, at the Golf Course at Birch Creek. Dick will be buried at Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado, in Grand Junction. The family requests memorial donations in Dick’s memory be made to Kiwanis Doernbecher Children’s Cancer Program, 2870 NE Hogan Dr., Ste E., PMB#155, Gresham OR 97030 or online at https://kiwanisdoernbecher.org/give/donate/.  Online condolence may be shared at tamispinevalleyfuneralhome.com.