Kathie Ann Hopper

Kathie Ann Tripp Hopper, was born August 27, 1952 in Louisville, Kentucky to Louise Bodeman Scruggs. She passed peacefully in her sleep from this life into the arms of her Lord on January 4, 2026 at her home in Cibolo, Texas. She was 73 years old.

At age 9, Kathie heard a gospel presentation in her GA’s (Girls Mission Auxiliary) group at church, and that evening, privately, in the church chapel, she gave her heart to the Lord. Since that time, her desire was that all would come to know Jesus.

Across the years, she served at churches in Virginia, California, Guam, and Texas. She has worked in the nursery, served as a GA leader, taught 4th grade Sunday school, and sang in the church choir. She was the key social and fellowship person for multiple adult Sunday School classes, and hosted several all-class fellowships in her home. She participated in two mission trips to Nicaragua where she taught a women’s Bible lesson and vacation Bible school in an unchurched area, supporting the pioneer missionary work of Chosen Children Ministries. She tirelessly worked for many years with Franklin Graham’s Operation Christmas Child Shoebox ministry. Her passion exploded when she came to understand that each shoebox is a gospel opportunity and touches the lives of at least 10 people. She became a qualified year-round volunteer, and generously supported the ministry with her time, talent, and treasures.

During childhood, her mother worked in the concession stand at a drive-in theater, and brought Kathie and her siblings along who played on the playground during her work shift. This, and the hours she treasured watching movies on television with her mother cemented her lifelong love of old movies. The evening before she passed, she and Jim watched When Worlds Collide, a 1951 science-fiction drama.

Kathie’s step-father, Walter Scruggs, a combat engineer with the U. S. Army moved the family to Fort Knox, Valley Station, KY; Fort Leonard Wood, MO; and Fort Hood, TX before retiring in Corpus Christi, Texas where Kathie graduated from Richard King High School in 1970. In a scenario that could only have been orchestrated by God, she met California native Jim, a young sailor stationed at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, in 1971. They were married four months later, a marriage of 54 years during which Jim completed a Navy career, and Kathie held a career as a tax accountant. In retirement, they both remained active in church and Christian nonprofit ministries.

Kathie is survived by her husband James M. Hopper, her children James A. Hopper (Luna Finlayson), Katherine Buck (Steven), grandsons Charles Castillo, Jr. and Thomas Castillo as well as siblings Jeanette Glass (Don), David Scruggs (Christine), Guy Scruggs (Lorre), Lisa Woods, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Samaritan’s Purse, Operation Christmas Child.