Dr. Lawrence hoptry
Late Associate Pastor
September 2, 1937 - March 5, 2025
Lawrence L. Hoptry was born in Ironton, Ohio and was the only child of Harold and Opal Hoptry. After living in Chillicothe and Springfield, his family moved to South Charleston, WV. During his senior year of high school at South Charleston High, he accepted Christ as his Savior and was baptized at the Bethel Baptist Church by Rev. Elizabeth Caudill. In May 1955, he accepted the call to the ministry and was licensed by the home church.
His wife, Karen, who passed away in 2013, was thoroughly committed to Christ. They met in college and were married for 52 years. Hoppy continued to reside in Hurricane, WV. Their children are: Cathy Hadesty, Chris Humphrey and Jon Hoptry. Their grandchildren are: Madelaine, Emma and Jerek. At the present there is one great grandson, Henry Hoptry.
Hoppy graduated from Alderson Broaddus College (now University) in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Sociology and minoring in English literature. In college, he served on the Student Senate and was president of the Senior Class. He graduated from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1964 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. Sensing a need for specialized training, he returned to Eastern in 1998 and graduated in 2000 with a Doctor of Ministry degree in Renewal of the church.
While in college, he worked as a volunteer with a poverty stricken area near the school. In seminary, he served as youth pastor of the Gladwyne United Methodist Church in Gladwyne, PA and the Central Presbyterian Church in Norristown, PA. Following graduation from Eastern, he served as pastor of the Kingwood Baptist Church from 1964 to 1981 and the First Baptist Church of Nitro from 1981 to 2009. He began as interim Associate Pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in 2010 and continued in that position until 2025.
He had a great love of carpentry and found interest in almost anything that challenges the mind, except politics. He was very active in the Live Embers, Senior Ministry.
His wife, Karen, who passed away in 2013, was thoroughly committed to Christ. They met in college and were married for 52 years. Hoppy continued to reside in Hurricane, WV. Their children are: Cathy Hadesty, Chris Humphrey and Jon Hoptry. Their grandchildren are: Madelaine, Emma and Jerek. At the present there is one great grandson, Henry Hoptry.
Hoppy graduated from Alderson Broaddus College (now University) in 1963 with a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Sociology and minoring in English literature. In college, he served on the Student Senate and was president of the Senior Class. He graduated from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1964 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. Sensing a need for specialized training, he returned to Eastern in 1998 and graduated in 2000 with a Doctor of Ministry degree in Renewal of the church.
While in college, he worked as a volunteer with a poverty stricken area near the school. In seminary, he served as youth pastor of the Gladwyne United Methodist Church in Gladwyne, PA and the Central Presbyterian Church in Norristown, PA. Following graduation from Eastern, he served as pastor of the Kingwood Baptist Church from 1964 to 1981 and the First Baptist Church of Nitro from 1981 to 2009. He began as interim Associate Pastor at Mount Vernon Baptist Church in 2010 and continued in that position until 2025.
He had a great love of carpentry and found interest in almost anything that challenges the mind, except politics. He was very active in the Live Embers, Senior Ministry.