Charles E. ‘Gene’ Hopkins

Charles E. “Gene” Hopkins, 60 of Columbia, formerly of Vandalia died Saturday, June 24, 2017 at University Hospital and Clinics in Columbia.

Funeral services will be Friday at 1 p.m., at Waters Funeral Chapel in Vandalia. With Kenny Haddock officiating. Interment will be in Mt. Zion Cemetery with full military honors.

Visitation will be Friday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the funeral home.

He was born June 5, 1957 in Spokane, Wash., the son of Robert Eugene and June Ann (Grote) Hopkins. He married Kristy Jo Wormsley in Vandalia on May 31, 1975. She survives.

Survivors include his mother, June of Vandalia; wife, Kristy of Columbia; one son, David E. Hopkins of Columbia; one daughter, Tracy L. Wise and husband, Travis and their two sons of Columbia; two brothers, William Terrance “Terry” Hopkins and wife, Kelly of Silex and Ron Hopkins of Vandalia; two sisters, Lil Hopkins of Boonville, Sandy Caldwell and husband, Kenneth of Vandalia and Marlene Strode and her children of Sturgeon; and several nieces and nephews.

Gene grew up and attended schools in Vandalia. He was a 1975 Van-Far High School grad and also graduated in 1984 with an associate’s degree in automotive technology from Moberly Area Community College.

Between high school and college, Gene served his country in the U.S. Army and worked at Harbison-Walker Refractories for three years. Gene then worked at the Montgomery Wards automotive department in Columbia for five years.

He retired in 2016 after nearly 20 years as a bus automotive tech with Ryder and then First Student school bus in Columbia.

Gene was a member of the First Baptist Church in Vandalia. He enjoyed car shows, drag racing, go-cart racing, his dogs and reading.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Eugene Hopkins.

Pallbearers will be Travis Wise, Kenneth Caldwell, Dale Franklin, Tim Ralph, Michael Cozad and Tim Brown.

Memorials are encouraged to the American Diabetes Association.