Carolyn Ann (Kretz) Hopkins

Carolyn Ann (Kretz) Hopkins, 88, retired RN, died Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Carolyn was born on September 14, 1935, in Stockton, CA to parents, Winfield Joseph and Caroline Angela (Roth) Kretz, which precede her in death. She graduated nursing school in Sacramento, CA in 1956. Carolyn and Frank F. Hopkins, were married on October 26, 1957, at the Mather Air Force Base in Sacramento, CA. After she and Frank were married, they moved around to many different Air Force Bases. From the mid-west to the east coast, back to the west coast, then finally settled down in Wichita, KS. She worked in many capacities as a nurse, from newborn to floor nurse. They traveled from Wichita to Fargo, ND (not a fan of cold weather) and then to Fayetteville, NC, where she worked in medical records. She worked there until she retired, and then moved back to Wichita to be close to family after Frank, retired Air Force Major and RN, passed in 1991. Carolyn enjoyed traveling around to national parks, visiting many states with family and friends, and also traveled overseas to Germany to gather family history, were she was able to meet some distant cousins. She also enjoyed working with genealogy and loved tracing family members’ lineages back as far as she could. She had great joy in visiting with and watching the grandkids and great-grandkids play and celebrating birthdays and holidays. Carolyn is survived by daughters, Caryn Hopkins (Chuck Eads) of Seattle, WA, Kerri (Howard) Forsberg of Rose Hill, KS, Rebecca (Russ) Miller of Baltimore, MD; son, Frank W. (Abby) Hopkins of Wichita, KS; seven grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, Peanuts and Fuzzy just to name two. Services and burial will be at Fort Scott National Cemetery in Fort Scott, Kansas, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to: Presbyterian Manor of Wichita, (wichitapresbyterianmanor.org) 4700 W. 13th Street North, Wichita, KS 67212 and Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, (hynesmemorial.org) 313 S. Market, Wichita, KS 67202. Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.