Hopper Funeral Home, Inc Celebrates 117 Years of Service to the Families of Southeastern, Kentucky

In 1918, he purchased a half interest in the J. and H.T. Miller Store, dealers in general merchandise and undertaker’s supplies. Soon the store’s name was changed to Miller and Hopper. In 1923, Miller and Hopper purchased their first motorized hearse, a 1923 Nash combination hearse and ambulance, which took the place of their horse-drawn hearse.

In 1925, Walter C. Hopper Sr. received his Kentucky Funeral Director and Embalmer’s license.

In 1936, the Walter C. Hopper Quality Store and Funeral Home was opened. In 1937, Walter's son, Harry Glenn, received his Kentucky Funeral Director and Embalmer’s license. In 1946, the Walter C. Hopper Quality Store was sold, but Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. remained a well-known established business throughout Knox County and southeastern Kentucky.

In 1962, Charles F. Hopper, a grandson of Walter and son of Harry, received his Kentucky Funeral Director’s and Embalming License, from the oldest mortuary school in the nation, the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. Upon graduation, Charles joined the family firm.

In 1963, Hopper Funeral Home opened its present location at 302 North Broadway. Soon after, Walter and Harry Hopper retired.

Charles F. Hopper and his wife, Ann Melton Hopper, purchased full interest of Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. and continued to serve the people of Knox County with the Hopper tradition, offering the families of the area quality service in the finest of facilities. The long-range goal for Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. was and still is, to remain a part of Knox County’s heritage, continuously providing service to the people of southeastern Kentucky, with respect, dignity and integrity, the trademark of Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. since 1905.

In 1994, Charles F. Hopper died, and his wife Ann and their daughters, Victoria and Sally, became owners of Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. Mrs. Hopper (Ann) continued providing the same time-honored traditions and unmatched service to Knox County families, just as had all of the generations of Hoppers before her. Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. is the oldest funeral home in Barbourville, Kentucky with the most years of experience serving you and your loved ones.

Mrs. (Ann) Hopper passed away in January 2019. Her daughters, Sally Hopper and Victoria Hopper, are now the owners of Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. and the fourth generation of the Hopper Family to own and operate Hopper Funeral Home, Inc. Sally and Victoria have pledged to carry on their family’s business and to provide superior service to the families that their family has served for four generations.  This generation of Hoppers feels privileged to honor their legacy of providing a deep, rich heritage of service to their beloved community members.

The next Hopper to enter into the business of providing funeral merchandise to the citizens of Knox County was Walter Charles Hopper Sr., who, at the age of sixteen, came to Barbourville, Kentucky, from "Hopper" (present-day) Fount, Kentucky, to seek employment. He worked in B.P. Walker’s General Store for several years for room and board and thirteen dollars a month.