Expediter Community looses one honest man and fleet owner

Streakn1 · Dec 24, 2008

This morning we received a phone call informing us that a friend and small fleet owner had passed away unexpectedly overnight. He was one of the most honest fleet owners we have met. we knew him through our own personal business dealings with one of his family members in the past. This family has had several members involved in the expedite industry throughout the years and are known as honest and fair business people towards their drivers.

He will be greatly missed by not only his wife and children, but also his family, friends and drivers. No one can fill his shoes as only he could. Yet he can and will be an inspiration to those of us that knew him!

I have withheld his name as I feel that the family should be the ones to publically name him if they choose to on this forum. Those of you close to him will know.

So as many look forward the the happiness and excitement of Christmas Day, there will be those of us mourning the passing of this wonderful person. God rest his soul and look over and care for his family during this most trajic event on Christmas Eve! Amen

Streakn1 · Dec 26, 2008

The friend and fleet owner in my previous post was Tim Hopkins, Pat Hopkins brother. Anyone interested in reading Tim's obituary may do so in the Saturday 12/27/08 edition (online or hard copy) of the Columbus Dispatch newspaper.

Streakn1 · Dec 27, 2008

In my earlier post on this thread I failed to mention that Tim had at an average of 4-5 D & DR units leased on with FECC.

jaminjim · Dec 27, 2008

We ran for Tim very briefly awhile back. Pay was correct and on time. Tim has some of the best equipment around, and maintained it properly. Nice guy who left you alone, Our sympathies go out to his family.

dabluzman1 · Dec 27, 2008

Linda and I drive one of Tims DR units.
We received the shocking information Christmas eve in a phone call from Pat.
Tim was the owner who took the time and cared most about us as we were looking into
expediting.
A true gentleman, who while being a honest business man was foremost, a good and loving Father and Husband.
He will be missed.

Dreamer · Dec 27, 2008

Sorry to hear that. Tim and Pat were local to me here, and had an excellent reputation over the years.

The family will be in our prayers.

Dale

ATeam · Dec 27, 2008

I am feeling very sad this evening. Tim, a good friend, died the day before Christmas and it is just now beginning to settle in that he won't be around any more.

Back when Diane and I were driving fleet-owner trucks, we drove one of his for a while. We stayed in touch after moving on, talking every now and then by phone and breaking bread when we were near Columbus, Ohio, where he lived. Tim leaves a number of family members behind, including his wife who we never met, his school-age children who we did meet, and some siblings. We got to know Pat, one of Tim's brothers. Pat runs a number of trucks and helped get Tim into the fleet-owner business. The two were very close.

We had planned to go back in service after Christmas and onto the road from home. We will instead drive the truck to Columbus to attend the funeral on Tuesday. Tim was our friend. We want to be there when his family and friends pray, remember, celebrate, grieve and say goodbye.

Bruno · Dec 28, 2008

The Hopkins brothers are good people, Tim will be missed dearly. Dreamer can you post a place where flowers can be sent too?

Streakn1 · Dec 28, 2008

For those wishing to send flowers to the family of Tim Hopkins, the family has requested in lieu of flowers that donations may be made to the :

Timothy J. Hopkins Sr. Childrens Education Memorial Fund
c/o National City Bank
P.O. Box 218
Pickerington,OH 43147

This information may be viewed in the full online obituary for Tim Hopkins which was posted today on the Columbus Dispatch website. After you get on the Columbus Dispatch, go to the "local" tab then "obituaries". An online "Guest Book" is also available to sign and offer condolences.

Streakn1 · Dec 28, 2008

ATeam said:
We had planned to go back in service after Christmas and onto the road from home. We will instead drive the truck to Columbus to attend the funeral on Tuesday. Tim was our friend.

I think thats great that the two of you will be attending Tim's funeral. I'm sure that the family will appreciate that very much.

Unfortunately when we told our carrier that we would go back in service 12/21/08 we made a commitment to them and our customers to run until after the first of the year since many of the trucks are still OOS. Loads were already pre-planned for us that run us through this coming week. We cannot go back on our customers as much as we wish we could so we can attend the funeral. Otherwise you can bet we would have been there.

Although we never drove for Tim, it was through our business dealings with his brother Pat that we met Tim. You only had to know him a short time to be left feeling that you had made a lifelong friend. Sadly, we never got a chance to meet his wife and children before his passing.