Glenda Lou Sharp Hopper

Of Mountain Home, Arkansas

Glenda Lou Sharp Hopper, the daughter of the late Earl and Willie Sharp, was born February 15, 1946 in Bandmill, Arkansas.  She departed this life May 31, 2025 at her home in Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 79 years.

Glenda was a 1964 graduate of Oxford High School with the honor of Valedictorian.  She received a degree in education from ASU Jonesboro in 1968.  She later went on to get more degrees, including a masters in English and literature, which she taught many years.  She also taught Journalism.  Glenda began her teaching career in Cotter High School.  She then taught a year at Bradleyville, Missouri.  She retired after 28 years of service at Cotter, Evening Shade, Calico Rock High Schools, then later returned to teach seven more years at Norfork and Viola High Schools.

Hundreds of students have benefitted greatly from their experiences in her classroom because of her love for teaching and the desire to see them succeed.

Glenda married Jerry Hopper August 12, 1971 at Melbourne, Arkansas where they resided for several years.  She was always supportive of Jerry's endeavors, whether it be playing music, driving race cars or dealing in Corvettes.  She was the test driver, her job being to drive a Corvette to school a couple of weeks and detect any problem the car might have before it was sold.

Jerry and Glenda built and operated Hopper's Dinner Club in July 1986. They, along with their son, Jerry Dean, worked to provide live music, good food and entertainment in the Mountain Home area for 27 years.  Jerry Dean was the mastermind on the ribs that became known throughout the country.  He still won't tell anyone how he prepared them.

While she was on a school trip to London when Jerry Dean was 15, she came home to find that Jerry had bought a drag racing Camaro, and Jerry Dean was driving it.  She was scared to death but became his biggest fan as he raced up until the last few years.  She was also so proud of his guitar skills.

Glenda spent her life caring for her parents, her husband and her children.  Even after she became ill with Alzheimer's she never complained and worried about her family.  She loved those grandchildren.  When Ally and Maggy lived close by, she was with them constantly. She took them to school every morning and was sure to teach them ABCs, fractions, or anything else they might need.  The car was covered with cd, cards, workbooks, etc.

Glenda was of the Baptist faith and a member of Twin Lakes Baptist Church in Mountain Home.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years Jerry Hopper, son Jerry Dean and wife Renee, daughters Carol Ford and Karen Brantingham and husband Dan, six grandchildren and five great grandchildren; a sister: Linda Harrington of Lone Rock and a brother David Sharp of Melbourne.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Willie Sharp, and two brothers, William Paul Sharp, Samuel Eugene Sharp,

Memorial service will be held Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at Twin Lakes Baptist Church in Mountain Home with Sam Bailey officiating.

Cremation arrangements by Eddie's Family Funeral Home in Melbourne, Arkansas.