John Charles Hoopes, Sr. of Clayton on Thursday, September 15, 2022. Age 79. Husband of 56 years to Eileen Cecilia Hoopes (nee Balmer). Father of Lisa Renee’ Pellicano (Ken) of Wilkesboro, NC and John C. Hoopes, Jr. (Elaine) of Clayton. Grandfather of Nicholas James Pellicano, Shane Robert Pellicano, Nicholas Anthony Gielda (Georgie), Jasmine R. Martinez, and Eric R. Allen. Great-grandfather of Sean A. Hampton. Brother of the late George C. Hoopes, Sr. (late Linda). Uncle to George C. Hoopes, Jr. and many other nieces and nephews. Son of the late George C. and Jane (nee Chadzak) Hoopes, Sr.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, John moved to Clayton in 1955 and graduated from Clayton High School in 1960. He traveled around the country with a band for about a year before joining the Merchant Marines. In 1963, he joined the Philadelphia Police Department for about 3 years, and then John married the love of his life, Eileen, in 1966. He worked in security at the Philadelphia Airport for 2 years and joined United Airlines in 1969 until his retirement in 2011. During his time with United, John also sold insurance for Royal Insurance Company and held various other jobs to help support his family.
John began playing the saxophone at age 8 and continued doing so throughout his life including 10 years in a band called the Blue Jays which played at the Halfway House in Runnemede. John also played in numerous string bands over the years beginning with Woodland String Band and then Trilby String Band, both out of Philadelphia, and later Garden State String Band, Durning String Band, and finally the Gloucester City String Band, all out of Gloucester City. John was a very loving family man who loved to cut his grass and to play with his dogs Jo-Jo, Buddy, and the late Bear.
Relatives and friends are invited to his viewing Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Thursday, September 22, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the BARCLAY FUNERAL HOME, 208 Maple Street, Clayton, NJ 08312. Funeral service on Thursday at 11:00 AM at the funeral home. Sign the guestbook at BarclayFuneralHome.net.
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