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James R. (Dick) Hopkins

James R. (Dick) Hopkins, of Sonoma, passed away Jan. 26, 2011, after a brief illness. He was 85. Dick was born in Fresno, grew up and spent his young adult life in Richmond and then moved with his wife and daughters to Sonoma in 1965, where he spent his remaining years.

Dick entered the Army in 1943, completing his basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga. In 1944. Dick's unit sailed to Marseilles, France, where they proceeded north and were engaged in the Battle of the Bulge, north of Bastogne.

Dick was wounded and returned to the states to recover and received an honorable discharge in 1945. He was awarded both a Purple Heart and Silver Star for his service and served as an Army Ranger. After his discharge, Dick enrolled in the University of California at Berkeley and married his wife of 63 years, Harriet Fay Brisley. He worked for Standard Oil and then Chevron Corporation for 35 years before his retirement in 1985.

In addition to his wife, Dick is survived by his daughters, Pamela Delgado, of Stockton and Jennifer Sherrill (Robert), of San Rafael; grandchildren, Matthew, Michael and Amy Delgado and Meredith and Alec Sherrill; great-granddaughters, Allison, Jamie and Scarlett Delgado; sister, Betty Hoskins of Quincy, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Per his request, Dick was cremated and will have a very small, private family observance.

In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting donations to Hospice By The Bay in Larkspur.