Submitted by: Alice Marie Beard

Judy Hopper

May 23, 1949 - Oct. 14, 2009

MISHAWAKA - Judy Hopper, 60, of Columbia, SC, formerly of Mishawaka, IN, passed away at the Baptist Hospital, Columbia, October 14th at 2:35 p.m. Judy was born May 23, 1949, in Kirksville, MO, to Paul C and Phyllis (Byland) Blankenhorn, the first of four children: sister, Gail (Michael) Stroh, and brothers, James and Richard. She attended Mishawaka High School and graduated from the Patricia Stevens College of South Bend. She began her career as a U.S. Army civil servant at Fort Benjamin Harrison in 1985. Then in 1995 she went to Fort Jackson, SC, where she continued at the Soldiers Support Institute for 24 years as a government employee. She took great pride in her family: son, John (Sherry) Hopper, daughter, Jenny (Stephen) McElwaine, and six grandchildren, Damian, Ashlee, Elizabeth Katelynn, David and John Jr. When she couldn't make it back home for the holidays she would bake treats to take to the military personnel on duty, Thank you Deb Hartman, for being there for Judy when she needed you most, a truer friend could not be found. Thank you to Bev, Donna, Gail and the rest of her support group from work; Thank you to the loving dedication of Dr. Babcock, the oncology department, Baptist Hospital, and staff for doing everything you could for Judy. Visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00 pm. Monday, October 19, 2009, in Chapel Hill Funeral Home, 10776 McKinley Highway, Osceola. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 20, 2009, in the funeral home. Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.chapelhillmemorial.com. Rest easy now, your journey's done peace has found you at last You lived your life with all your heart and did not look back with regret You fought a valiant fight, your courage an example to us all. With kind words and gentle thoughts we'll remember you Sleep well knowing you are loved.