Rev. Luther David Hopper

September 4, 1949 - December 11, 2021

Rev. Luther David Hopper, 72, husband of Barbara Liddell Hopper, passed away Saturday, December 11, 2021 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville, TN. He was born September 4, 1949 to Walker & Ethel Townsend Hopper. A man of many interests and talents, he loved his Savior above all else. His favorite book, the Holy Bible, was never far from his reach. Held just as close was his family, his friends, and his country. As an electrician first class at the University of Kentucky from 1968 to 1978, he took many opportunities to witness to others. He was an honest, innovative man respected and admired by those he associated and worked with. He worked full-time and preached part-time until the day the Lord told him it was time to begin his full-time ministry. He was ordained on March 18, 1980 as a minister for the First Church of God. He earned a Master's Degree in Theology. For over 40 years, he went where God sent him and the people needed him, whether the back roads and hills of eastern Kentucky or the metropolitan areas of Cincinnati, Ohio or Muncie, Indiana. He loved the people young and old. His radio ministry reached thousands of weary travelers. He was invited to preach at churches in others states. He loved his work. As the years started taking their toll, he lost his beloved wife Francis in 2008. Soon afterwards, his health started to decline so much that he finally resigned from his life's work. He moved to Cookeville, TN to be close to his daughter and other family members there. His son and family were in Nebraska, so phone calls and text messages were enjoyed when visits were not possible. But the Lord wasn't finished with him yet. His life changed when he met and in 2018 married a Christian woman who also loved Jesus and God's people. With fishing pole in hand, they enjoyed the wondrous landscapes his Lord hath made. He enjoyed church from a pew rather than a pulpit, family gatherings, watching the birds and other critters that wandered in the yard. He studied his Bible daily, and with the Lord's blessing he received his heart's desire to preach two more times at his home church in Monterey, TN. He was proud of his Scottish and Irish heritage and enjoyed researching his ancestors. Even as he lay in the hospital bed those last weeks, he talked with nurses and staff about the wonders of heaven and the perfect body he would receive. His doctor remarked that for the rest of his life, he would always remember the 'thumbs up' sign he got whenever he asked, "How are you doing today, Mr. Hopper?" This best of warriors has gone home. God is good. Rev. Hopper was preceded in death by his parents Walker & Ethel Townsend Hopper; wife Frances McCarty Hopper; brothers Henry Cole Hopper, Robert "Bobby" Hopper, Johnny Hopper, & Jerry (Carol) Hopper; and sister Faye Hopper Slusher. He is survived by wife Barbara Liddell Hopper; daughter Donna Ruth (Tony) Barnett; son David Ray (Melanie) Hopper; nephew Andrew Wells; grandchildren Tiffany Smith, Jessica (Matt) Garrett, Logan (Ashley) Downs, Dylan Hopper, Kole Hopper, & Brielle Hopper; great-grandchildren Isaac, Noah, & Hannah Garrett; and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, & loved ones. Funeral services will be conducted at Vaughn's Mill First Church of God at 12:00PM on Friday, December 17 by Rev. Dennis Creech. Visitation will be at the church on Friday beginning at 9:00 for family and 10:00 for friends. Burial will follow the funeral at the Kennon Cemetery on Hardwicks Creek Road with Logan Downs, Dylan Hopper, Kole Hopper, Matthew Garrett, and Andrew Wells serving as pallbearers.