William Hopkins

William Hopkins

BENTON, Ill. -- William Franklin Hopkins, 72, of Benton, formerly of Alexander County, Ill., died Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at Southgate Health Care Center in Metropolis, Ill.

He was born Sept. 13, 1935, in Alexander County, son of William Roy and Vesta V. Benefield Hopkins.

Hopkins was a retired roofer.

He served in the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force.

Survivors include three sons, Frank Hopkins of Herrin, Ill., Dusty Hopkins of Kankakee, Ill., Scott Hopkins of Benton; a brother, Roy Hopkins of Roxana, Ill.; and five grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at Jones Funeral Home in Tamms, Ill.

A graveside service will be at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at Olive Branch Cemetery in Olive Branch, Ill. The eulogy will be given by his niece, Nelda Bigham. Full military honors will be provided by Pulaski County VFW Post 8891 in Mounds, Ill., American Legion Post 178 in Villa Ridge and Cairo VFW Post 2649.