Beatrice Lane Hopkirk

BEATRICE LANE (CARROLL) HOPKIRK February 10, 1911 ~ October 23, 2011 She was a life force at 100 years and 8 months. She lived a long full life. That is good. But she will be greatly missed. Beatrice L. Hopkirk was born on Feb. 10, 1911 in West Medford, MA. As a young girl she attended the Faelten Pianoforte School in Boston, MA. She acquired an abiding love of the piano that remained with her throughout her life. In 1928 she graduated from Medford High School and attended what was then Lesley School (now Lesley University) in Cambridge, MA. While at Lesley she learned to cook using the Boston Cooking School Cook Book by Fannie Farmer. All who had a chance to sample her pies could attest to her skills. She worked at various department stores in the greater Boston area upon completion of her program at Lesley School. Later she worked for the Better Business Bureau. In 1932 she met her future husband, Diedrich Rollin Hopkirk of Ft. Madison, IA, while he was attending Harvard Business School. They were exceptionally good dancers, elegant and graceful on the dance floor. They married in 1935 and had two children, a son and a daughter. She became an expert at moving and buying and selling homes as her husband was transferred during his career with Price Waterhouse, Weyerhaeuser, and later American Optical. They had a busy social life. Her skills from the Boston Cooking School program served her well with all the entertaining they did over the years. She was a member of the League of Women Voters and eventually became President of her chapter. In addition, she was a member of a number of social and community groups throughout the years. These are some of the events of her life, but throughout her life what was most important to her was her family. They were first and foremost always. She had an intense love for and devotion to them. She always gave her support, love, attention, and interest. She was a wonderful loving grandmother. As a friend said, "It seems unfair she had to go the way of mere mortals." Beatrice is survived by her son, Rollin Hopkirk, daughter-in-law, Virginia Hopkirk and granddaughter, Stephanie Hopkirk, all of Portland, OR; daughter, Susan Hopkirk of Vancouver, WA; and very special nieces, Carol Cook of East Haven, CT and Nancy Rice of Conroe, TX. A Celebration of Life honoring Beatrice will be held from 1:30-3:30 on Wed., Nov. 16, at Waterford at Fairway Village Retirement Community, 2911 SE Village Loop, Vancouver, WA. (Recently they changed their name to Touchmark at Fairway Village.)

Beatrice Lane Hopkirk

February 10, 1911 - October 23, 2011