Two years has passed and it only seemed liked only yesterday, we were riding and you were watching over all of us.  You were definitely a watchman, a great horseman and a friend who shared your talents with so many in the community and on the trail.
 I do not recall thanking you for all the times that you may have help Lynn with her horse and me as well.  So, thank you for your help, your laughs, the lifetime memories and for leading us on some great adventurous trails.
You will always be missed when we saddle up. 


Ray & Lynn 



 

My brother Rich was born August 8, 1950 and was only three months old when our father was killed in a tractor rollover accident.  I had just turned 9 that month and  it was now my job (my pleasure) to watch Rich and occasionally attempt to start our evening meal since our mother and brother Gary (almost 11) now had the job of doing outdoor chores. Having him was a joy for us - we were all so excited the first time that he actually would eat food instead of just milk from the bottle. We had him in his jump chair on the middle of the kitchen table one night while the three of us were eating the cookies that had chocalate coating on the bottom and chocolate stripes across the top and gave him a lick to start with - he was so happy it didn't stop with just a lick or just one cookie.  He then decided that cooked cereal was also good.  I also loved to sit in the rocking chair rocking him - I still have that rocking chair and used the same jump chair for my two children.  I feel sad that he never knew our biological father, but in early1954 we were blessed with a very nice step-father.  He was loving and very good to us.  Later in the year we were also blessed to have a half-brother, Jim, who was closer in age to Rich than Gary and I were...........  I wish we would have had more time together during the years after we  were grown up, but I cherish the memories of when we were able to be together with Rich, Jane & Trevor.  We will miss him.
 

When I first started riding with Rich, Jane, Karen, Dennis and Shirley about 6 years ago, a tree limb knocked my hat off and one of my favorite loop earrings.  Rich jumped off of his horse to retrieve my hat, but could not find the loop earring.  Two weeks passed and it rained and leaves were everywhere but each time Rich rode the trail, he looked for my earring.  On the next time I rode, he told me he kept looking for my earring.  Suddenly, he says I see it and gave it back to me.   I was so shocked he kept looking but that was Rich, the kind and caring man we rode miles and miles of trail with each weekend on horseback.

I fell off of the mounting block at Karen and Dennis Morgan’s house and Rich was the first one off of his horse to get me up and check out if I hit my head.  When we stopped for lunch, I was hurting so bad but Rich helped me get back in that saddle again.  He called and checked on me the next day just to make sure I was fine.

I would not be able to ride as good as I can without the encouragement, confidence, and all the help from Rich Hoppenworth.

He was the best friend and I will miss him!

The picture I have attached is how I will always remember Rich.

Marilyn Kelly