Published: July 06, 2009 12:08 am         

William J. “Bill” Hopton

William J. “Bill” Hopton, 62, of Terre Haute, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2009. He was born Feb. 4, 1947, in Terre Haute. He was the owner of Laughrey Brothers Roofing in Terre Haute, and the former owner of Lincoln Park Speedway in Greencastle. He was a 1965 graduate of Garfield High School and a graduate of Indiana State University. He was the former lieutenant governor of his district, as well as past president, of the Breakfast Optimists. He also was a former member of the board of directors of the Sycamore Varsity Club at Indiana State University. He was an avid sports enthusiast for all sports at ISU, as well as the St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers, and was a huge fan of Tony Stewart of NASCAR. He coached Youth Basketball for his son and grandson, and helped form the T.H.A.T. (Terre Haute Action Track) group which were the promoters of the Terre Haute Action Track for seven years.

He is survived by his wife, Marlene Lybarger Hopton, whom he married Nov. 4, 1994; one son and daughter-in-law, Brian and Mandy Hopton of Fontanet; one daughter, Stacey Hopton of Terre Haute; five grandchildren, B.J., Jacob, and Kayla Hopton of Fontanet, and Adrian and Devon Hatcher; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Melvin Wood of Terre Haute; and special cousin, Maggie Keller of Terre Haute. He will be greatly missed by his faithful sidekick, Chuckie Hancock, and “Little Sister’, Maggie Shook. He was preceded in death by his parents; John Wright and Mildred Hopton Wright; a brother, Michael “Mikey”; and his childhood guardians, Tom and Margaret Minks.

Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday, at Greiner Funeral Home, 2005 N. 13th St., with Brother Abe Miller officiating. Visitation is 4 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. Burial is at Roselawn Memorial Park. Pallbearers are Tom Hunt, Bill Kauffman, Doug “Leftie” Simonson, Brian “Li’l B” Thomas, Travis Trueblood and Chuckie Hancock. Gary Thomas will be an honorary pallbearer.