FRANKLIN
Alice M. (Bishop, Hopwood) Christopher, 85, of Franklin, IN and a resident of Otterbein Franklin Seniorlife Community passed away Sunday, May 16, 2021. She was born February 20, 1936 in Tewksbury, Massachusetts to Rev. Walter Callen Bishop and Susie Woods (Robinson) Bishop. She married Rev. Paul S. Hopwood on June 8, 1956 and had five children, one dying as an infant, they divorced in 1978, he preceded her in death on September 27, 2016. She married Rev. Richard L. Christopher on December 25, 1986, he preceded her in death on June 22, 2013. She then married Rev. Paul T. Nugent on February 14, 2015; he survives.
She graduated from McMinnville High School in McMinnville, Oregon in 1953. She attended Linfield College in McMinnville, OR from 1953-1954, William Jewell College in Liberty, MO from 1954-1956, the University of Louisville in 1956, received her B.A. from Missouri Valley College in Marshall, MO in 1959 and her M.S.W. from IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN in 1986.
She had been a social worker for the Indiana Department of Health based at New Castle State Development Center from 1969-1988 and following from 1988 until 1990 at the State Development Administrative Offices in Indianapolis retiring in 1990. She previously worked for the Marion County, Indiana public welfare department from 1964 until 1965 and 1967 until 1969.
She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Franklin, IN and the United Methodist Women. She loved gardening, table games, playing tennis, baking bread, making pies, the ocean, and volunteering as a tutor at Webb Elementary School in Franklin, IN. She loved her Savior, Jesus Christ, her church and serving others.
Alice enjoyed traveling with her late husband Richard (Dick) visiting Germany, England, Scotland, Panama, Mexico, Austria, Germany, Hungary, China, Sweden, Hawaii, Eastern Canada, Russia, Alaska, Cap-Haitien, Haiti, Western Canada and taking several Caribbean cruises. She loved staying active.
She is survived by her children Sara Hopwood Edwards (Phil) of Fortville, IN, Mary Hopwood Peterson (Dave) of Shippensburg, PA, Martha Hopwood King (Kevin) of Sneads Ferry, NC, Ruben Hopwood (Melanie) of Cambridge, MA, stepchildren Carol Christopher (Lisa Steiner) of Noblesville, IN, Beth Christopher Fuller of Tucson, AZ, Laura Christopher Wood (Chris) of Muncie, IN, Paula Jean Nugent Barickman (Gene) of Mahomet, IL, Thomas Nugent of Bloomington, IN, Ruth McClelland Nugent (John) of Augusta, GA, siblings William Bishop (Katherine) of Vancouver, WA, Arlyss Burkett of Rossmoor, CA, Louise Arata (Don) of San Mateo, CA, 20 precious grandchildren and 30 priceless great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Rev. Walter Callen Bishop and Susie Woods (Robinson) Bishop, stepmother Elvera (Nylund) Bishop, her former husbands, Rev. Paul S. Hopwood and Rev. Richard L. Christopher and infant son Philip Andrew Hopwood, brother Walter C. Bishop, Jr., sisters Rosa (Rose) Bishop Uhlinger and Florence Bishop Davis and brother-in-law Thomas Burkett.
Reverend Phil Edwards will conduct a celebration of life service on Saturday June 26, 2021 at 3:30 P.M. at Swartz Family Community Mortuary and Memorial Center, 300 South U.S. 31 (Morton Street) in Franklin, IN and will be live-streamed for family and friends to connect at www.swartzmortuary.com/obituary/alice-christopher. Please use Firefox Internet or Google Chrome for optimal viewing. Friends may call Saturday June 26, 2021 at the mortuary from 1:30 P.M. until service time. A private family inurnment will take place at Snapps Ozark Memorial Park in Branson, MO. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Otterbein Franklin Seniorlife Community, 1070 West Jefferson Street, Franklin, IN 4131 or Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County Inc. 401 Mooreland Drive, New Whiteland, IN 46184 or at www.habitatjohnsoncounty.org/donate.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.swartzmortuary.com. Information 317-738-0202.
