George Wilbur “Sonny” Hopper, 77, Carthage, Missouri, passed away Monday evening, November 16, 2020, at University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, Kansas.
George was born January 29, 1943, in Granby, Missouri, the son of George C. Hopper and Virginia (Piatt) Hopper. He was a 1960 graduate of Granby High School in Granby, Missouri. George married the love of his life Sharon McGonagle on March 6, 1975 in Miami, Oklahoma. He retired from the explosive division of Atlas Powder Plant in Joplin. He was then employed by Industrial Gold Inc. in Joplin until 2010. He was a member of the Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage. George was a former Cub Scouts master, he loved square dancing and woodworking, but most of all, loved his family. Many stories are shared of the elaborate pranks he did leaving us with a smile on our faces and wondering how he pulled them off. His yearly story on Christmas Eve about the birth of our Lord is a memory we will all cherish. Sonny will be dearly missed by too many friends to list and family that deeply love and adore him.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Hopper; two daughters, Lori Gates (Jack), Forsythe, Missouri, and Sandy Hopper-Williams (Joe), Liberal, Missouri; three sons, Perry Huddleston (Karen), Joplin, Missouri, Randy Hopper (Charlotte), Jamestown, North Dakota, and Thom White (Sherri), Concordia, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents George and Virginia.
Memorial services will be held 11:30 am, Saturday, December 12, 2020, at Grace Episcopal Church, Carthage. Inurnment will follow the service at Park Cemetery, Carthage. Online condolences may be expressed through www.knellmortuary.com. Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Knell Mortuary.
