GREER - Thomas William Hopper, Sr., 56, of 504 Appling Court, died Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, in McCall Hospice Center, Simpsonville.

Widower of Ophelia Linen Hopper, he was born in Cherokee County, a son of the late John and Irene Bonner Hopper and stepson of the late Patsy Corry Hopper. He was a 1971 graduate of Gaffney High School, where he was a member of the National Honor Society and the Marching Band. He served as drum major during his senior year.

Thomas was a graduate of South Carolina State College with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. He was a member of the "Marching 101" marching band and the Army ROTC and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant. Thomas served in the U.S. Army for 12 years and reached the rank of Captain.

He was a former employee of Sam Solomon Company, Prudential Insurance Company and Bank of America.

Thomas was also preceded in death by a son, Tyren Antwan Hopper, and siblings, John Hopper and Paiety Hopper.

He is survived by a son, Thomas William Hopper Jr. (Charnessa) of the home; three brothers, Perry Hopper (Juanita) of Columbia, Theodore Hopper (Elizabeth) and Gary Hopper (Essie), all of Gaffney; two sisters, Rosa Lee Hopper of Atlanta, Ga., and Earnestine Elliott (James) of Shelby, N.C.; and one grandchild.

Services will be held Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 3 p.m. at Mikes Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Joseph Sanders Parks officiating, assisted by the Rev. Modestine Manning, the Rev. Samuel Leach and the Rev. Rock E. Sims. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The body will be in the church Wednesday at 2 p.m.

The family is at the home of Gary and Essie Hopper, 411 W. Robinson St.

Arrangements by The Gilmore Mortuary.