Paul Hoopengarner

Paul Hoopengarner, age 75, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, at his home near Putnamville, following a brief illness.

Born July 25, 1937 in Vigo County, Ind., he was the son of Emory and Hazel (Chapman) Hoopengarner.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia (Rector) Hoopengarner, and daughters, Carol (Ronald) Smith of Fillmore and Jane (Robert) Best of Waveland.

He and Patricia were married on Sep. 1, 1961, in Covington, Ind., and they moved to Putnam County in 1963.

Paul grew up near Riley, Ind., and graduated from Riley High School in 1955.

He attended Indiana State University and Purdue University before joining the Indiana Department of Transportation where he worked for 42 years as a project engineer on road construction and as a land surveyor, retiring in 1999.

For the past 12 years, Paul and his wife enjoyed and made many friends while managing a private business selling and installing outdoor wood-burning furnaces

Paul was an avid forester and dedicated advocate for the conservation of Indiana forests. He enjoyed working his own woodland and was an active volunteer and member of the Sycamore Trails Forestry Committee, a group committed to improving and providing education about managing forest resources.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Max Hoopengarner of Terre Haute.

A memorial service will be conducted at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6 at Bittles and Hurt Funeral Home, Greencastle, with Chaplain James Paino officiating.

The family will receive friends from 3-6 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Paul's name to the Sycamore Trails RC&D Forestry Committee, 210 S. Indiana St. Apt. 3, Greencastle, IN 46135

Condolences and expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.bittlesandhurt.com.