Edward Joseph Hopkins

June 17, 2013

Affectionately known as “Bud” or “Buddy” to his family, and as “Tex” to his friends in his horse owners circles, Edward Joseph Hopkins passed away in his sleep on the morning of June 17, 2013 at Ridge Meadows Hospital in Maple Ridge, B.C., in his 81st year. Tex was very actively involved in the Arabian Horse Association of B.C. in the 1970’s when he and his Arabian stallion Swadin won several awards. Bud was born in 1932 in Vermillion, Alberta, the eldest son of Edward Arthur Hopkins and Eveleen Barbara (Chappell).

He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Arthur Glyndwr Hopkins, and his faithful and constant companion for many years, his horse Swadin. He is survived by one son, Victor Warren (Hopkins) and he will be sorely missed by his surviving family; his sisters Valerie Jeanette Hill (Jack), Lynn Bentzen, Wendy Hillier, Carol Hillier and Annette Moore, his brothers Edwin Morgan Hopkins (Tina), John Arthur Hopkins (Elizabeth) and Norman Lloyd Hopkins (Barbara), and by his nephews and nieces; Mark Hill (Renee), Grant Hill (Ginelle), Douglas Hill, Stephanie Lee Chamberland (Paul), Cynthia Dawn Nelson (Brian), Edward David Hopkins, Angela Myfanwi Hopkins, Steven David Hopkins (Crystal), Leah Michelle Smith (Ted), Gareth Rowland Hopkins and Evan Rowland Hopkins. Bud is also survived by his much-loved current Arabian gelding, Murphy.

At his request there will not be a funeral or memorial service. Also at his request, at a future date to be determined, his ashes will be scattered by his family along with the ashes of his beloved Swadin off the Hope-Princeton Highway, up Whipsaw Creek, “past Paddy’s Pond” in the B.C. Cascade Mountains, one of his favourite wilderness areas where he and Swadin spent many happy days. There will be an appropriate family gathering at that time.

The family wish to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Borg, the nurses and staff at Langley Memorial Hospital for their sincere and compassionate care during his confinement in the last several months of his life. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Canadian Diabetes Association in his memory.

You are invited to leave a personal message of condolence for the family.

Messages of Condolence

Bud, You will be sorely missed. No more visits to the barn and your warm affection for the horses. No more stories of the wilder parts of B. C., of fascinating rocks and untouched streams, of horse behaviour, and of so much more of your adventures. I have my own scattered memories of you from my boyhood, youth, young adulthood, middle age, and recent years which I will treasure. And then there was your smile, always ready whatever adversity you may have been dealing with. Life has taken you on from us. Good-bye with a brother's love, Ted.

- Edwin (Ted) M. Hopkins

Dear Uncle Bud, You were a great uncle. I enjoyed seeing and riding your horses when you were still able to get around. I also enjoyed seeing you in the hospital as you grew older and lost your strength. I feel happy for you that you are in a much better place. David

- David Hopkins

Bud you will truly be missed from our family. I will always treasure and be grateful for the fact that you never forgot your/our father and came to know and be loved by us from our early boyhood memories to the present day. You always strove to bridge the separation of our two families all your life. I know Dad always treasured your faithfulness. You must have passed away happy in the knowledge that that gap had been bridged and that Ted, Norman and I have come to know all of our extended family.

- John A. Hopkins

You will now be with ur brother my dad and ur mom.

- cindy nelson

I remember Bud from my earliest childhood, as a friendly, easy-going adult with a non-judgmental nature and a ready smile. Although life took us on separate paths, on the few occasions when later in life I met him, he was always the same. And what he did for my Uncle Arthur's family because of his special nature, is not small. Thank you Bud, for the gift of your presence, and your quiet influence.

- June Beckford

Tex, you were a friendly face with a big heart for horses when I met you at Windy Willows in 2005. You could see how much you loved your horse, Murphy. ***Day is done, gone the sun....From the lakes, from the hills, from the skies....All is well, safely rest, God is nigh *** Then goodnight, peaceful night....Till the light of the dawn, shineth bright....God is near, do not fear,....Friend, goodnight*****

- Colleen O'Brien

I first met Tex at the Bank where I worked when he came in to cash his pay cheques. He had an interest in horses and I was training my first Appaloosa stallion. He asked my fiancé and I if we would like to ride with him at the Whipsaw Creek, and Bromley Mtn. on Pat White's Ranch in Princeton, where he used to hunt. From there, we became close friends and he got an Arabian horse, Swadin. Later, I purchased 2 Arabians and got completely involved with the showing and training of these horses. Tex, also began showing his horse and all of us enjoyed the camaraderie at the shows. We did this for many years and won lots of awards. Later, we moved to Aldergrove and developed a farm. He readily came over on the weekends and often helped with the fence-building. Usually, we had hot dogs and a bonfire with lots of friends on the weekends. With Tex, there was always lots of laughter and story telling. He shared many experiences of his hunting days (sometimes he confided that he got lost out on the back country trails) his horse always knew the way back! He was marvelous with leather work and designed many unique pieces of tack for horse work. He hand tooled beautiful belts, vests and chaps. He was definitely appreciated by our local horsemen. He moved to the Island for a while, and I lost contact with him. However, at Christmas many years later, we ran into each other and he surprised me with his health issues. Always, he had been so strong, yet he had lost so much weight and vigor. I invited him to come to our jobsite in Abbotsford for a visit and it was so good to catch up on old times. We saw him a few times after that and always enjoyed his company. He was a genuine friend, someone you could count on. He was such a kind person with all animals - most definitely horses. I feel honored to have known him and will treasure all of the memories and good times - may he ride again!

- Sheila Kirk

We are very grateful to have received your letter, Edwin, about Bud's passing. We owned 2 small homes on 80th Avenue in Surrey in the early 70's and rented the smaller one to Bud and he had a pasture in the back for his horse. We remember him doing leather work in those days and we were always on good terms. My father and mother knew Bud quite well, Jean and Norman Habing. Norm has passed on and Jean is in an elderly residence here in Dawson Creek. She has just recently celebrated her 101st birthday. She suffers somewhat from dementia and may not remember Bud, but we will remind her of him. We lost contact with Bud after 2004 and were very pleased that our name was still in his address book. We wish all his loved ones the very best and will always remember him fondly. Janice Hansen.

- Janice & Harald Hansen

Myself and my family remember Tex with such fondness. He had such a love of horses, especially Swadin. They enjoyed the trails as well as the show ring. He was so talented in his leather work. He carved 3 leather stools for us with our horses on them. We lost touch after the horses, however, our paths crossed again at VGH when we were in the same hospital room and side by side. It was good to get caught up with each other. Then parted ways again. We wish to send our condolences to all of Tex's family, he will be missed by all.

- Chuck Wallis

love you my brother

- annette moore

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