IN MEMORIAM: Joan Welch Hopkins;
Cooperstown Native Lived In Milford
ONEONTA – Joan Welch Hopkins, 77, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2018, at Fox Hospital.
Joan was born in Cooperstown on Jan. 23, 1941, to Mildred Miner Welch and Alva Curtis Welch.
She graduated from Cooperstown Central School, Class of 1958, attended the University of Miami, Florida. There she met and married Robert Burns – they had one child, Deborah.
Joan later relocated to Milford, where she met and married Jack (John) Kirkpatrick. Together they had daughter, Jennifer.
After a divorce, Joan married Edward Gibbons, became an instant mom to Edward and Brian Gibbons and they completed their family when they had a daughter, Gillian. In 1973, Joan lost her loving husband, Edward, in a car accident. Many years later she married Dale Hopkins.
In her 20s, Joan worked at First National Bank in Cooperstown. She later worked in Oneonta at Silver Dollar Optical, at Bresee’s Department Store in the cashier’s office and for Dr. Couden as a dental assistant and office manager.
Joan was a former member of Milford Fish & Game Club and a member of Cooperstown Native Daughters. She enjoyed cooking and gardening. Her greatest joy was spending time with family and friends. Joan had a great sense of humor! If you knew her, you loved her.
Joan is survived by her children, Deborah Burns of Oneonta, Jennifer Kirkpatrick of Oneonta, Edward (Barbara) Gibbons of Greenlawn and Brian (Carol) Gibbons of Kirkwood. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Hanna Kirkpatrick Lynch (Eddie), Taylor Pushkar, Ian Burr, Emma Burr, Katie Gibbons, Daniel Gibbons, Joshua Onyan, Amanda Swatling, Michael Swatling, Rachael Sarafin, Kala Jablonski, Tristin Roefs and Bryden Roefs; as well as by many great-grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by her brothers, Butch (Mary) Welch and Gerry Welch (Jerri Dobler; and sister, Pam Welch (Richard Duncan). Also, several nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to her husbands, Robert Burns, Jack Kirkpatrick, Edward Gibbons and Dale Hopkins and by her loving daughter, Gillian Gibbons, she was predeceased by her brothers, Ned and Frank Welch; sisters-in-law Olga and Patsy Welch; sister Mary Bowers; and parents, Alva and Mildred.
The family extend its thanks to the kind and wonderful nurses at Bassett, in addition to giving special thanks to Anna Leah of Fox Hospital.
The family will be present 2 to 4 p.m., Saturday Oct. 13, to receive friends at the Tillapaugh Funeral Home, 28 Pioneer St., Cooperstown.
Those who wish to do so may make donations to Catskill Area Hospice (297 River Street Service Road, Suite 1, Oneonta, NY 13820) or the Gillian Gibbons Memorial Fund, c/o Milford Central School (42 West Main St., Milford, NY 13807).
Arrangements are under the care of Tillapaugh Funeral Service, Cooperstown.