Betty Elaine Toy Hopkins

HOPKINS, BETTY ELAINE TOY Age 92, passed away peacefully on Sept 5, 2014. She was born in Lima, Ohio, to Miles Nathan Toy Sr. and Helen Corrine Hofmann Toy. Her husband Oscar Earl Hopkins Jr preceded her in death by 18 days. She is also preceded by her parents, her brother, Miles Nathan Toy Jr, and her son, Mark Alan Hopkins. She attended Bowling Green University and Capital University where she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta sorority. During summer break from school, Betty worked for the Army Air Corp at Wright Patterson AFB however before she could return to school, her job was frozen and she was unable to leave. She then signed on to become an Associate Engineer for the now USAF, where she met her husband of 70 years, Oscar (Hoppy) in the nose of a B-17 over Lake Erie. They were married in 1944 and moved with their 2 children, Mark and Lynn, to Albuquerque in 1953, having a 3rd child, Amy, in 1957. Betty worked as a substitute grade school teacher for APS and later for the City of Albuquerque as an Adult Probation Officer, the first woman in the US to hold this title. She was very active in her children's lives, including youth horse shows, Boy and Girl Scouts and Alvarado Elementary School Follies which raised money for playground equipment and to hire a cook to start the first hot lunch program in APS. Betty was also active in La Noche and Valley Garden Clubs, earning her Master National Flower Show Judge certification. At the request of the State Department of Education, she wrote 2 text books on horticulture which were used in vocational schools in 10 states. Betty was past president of Albuquerque Panhellenic Association, La Noche Garden Club, and Albuquerque Guild of the Santa Fe Opera. She is also the past Regent of the Zia Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She and Oscar were active members of the KAFB MOAA and spent much of their later life touring and skiing with that group. They also enjoyed touring the country in their motor home, attending The Masters and visiting friends and relatives all over the US. She is survived by her daughters, Lynn Hopkins and Amy Gorcyzca and her husband, Fred; daughter-in-law, Patricia Johns Hopkins; granddaughters, Sarah Dixon and her husband, Jed, Michelle Hannah and her husband, John, Kristen Holdren and her husband, Chris, Angela Portwood and her husband, Chris; and great grandchildren, Hunter and Brook Dixon, Lauren and Ben Hannah, Evelyn Holdren and Carter Portwood; many nieces and nephews; her 2 dogs, Bobby and Pete; and multitudes of friends. Betty will be interred with her husband at Santa Fe National Cemetery on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. Her life will be celebrated on Tuesday, September 9, 2014 at 2 p.m. at FRENCH - University. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Albuquerque Garden Center, 10120 Lomas Blvd NE 87112 or Presbyterian Hospice. Please visit the online guestbook for Betty at FRENCH 1111 University Blvd. NE 505-843-6333