Perea McCane Hopkins, 92, formerly of Bedford, passed away on Nov. 5, 2023. She was born on April 13, 1931, in Marshall, Texas, to Charles and Margaret Perea McCane.
Perea attended boarding school prior to college. After graduating from Seton Hill College, she worked in the computer laboratory of the Ballistics Research Laboratories at the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. In this position, she served as a mathematician and a human computer. She assisted in preparing firing tables for artillery, small arms, aircraft, mortar, and rocket and guided missile systems.
Her next assignment was with the 496 L System Program Office to develop space surveillance techniques for satellite detection and tracking. During this assignment, she participated on the test team at North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD). Following her association with the government, she served as an accounting analyst for Dynatrend, Inc.
Perea completed graduate courses in mathematics at the following universities: the University of Delaware, Boston University, and Northeastern University.
Perea McCane met Milton Hopkins (the love of her life) at Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford. To this union, a beautiful daughter was born, Christina Hopkins.
Recognized as a member of AAUW for 50 years, Perea has held offices in several chapters. She was a charter member and former president of the Middlesex County Chapter of LINKS and was a chairperson for the National Assembly that took place in Boston. The organization presented her with a Certificate of Honor for years of service.
Perea was also honored for six years of service to the Roxbury Children’s Services, where she served as president.
Her other activities have included membership in the Bedford Council on Human Relations, the League of Women Voters, Concord Area Board of the Massachusetts Department of Social Service, Boston Children’s Services, Inc., National Council of Negro Women, Inc., Black Awareness Program, and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was also active in the startup of METCO in Bedford.
Perea enjoyed needlepoint, knitting, reading, and a love for political news and current events. Another hobby was reading the New York Times every Sunday.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Milton Moses Hopkins, Jr. (Hoppy), and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles McCane. She leaves behind to cherish her memory her loving daughter, Christina Hopkins; her sister, Charlotte McCane; her brother-in-law, Benjamin Petteway; a sister-in-law, Orene Hopkins; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
The life of Perea McCane Hopkins will be celebrated at noon on Saturday, Nov. 11, at the Trinity United Methodist, 2600 Holman St., Houston, TX. Visitation will be prior to service will begin at 11 a.m.
To send flowers or share a memory, please visit the Mabrie Memorial Mortuary online at https://www.mabriemortuary.com/obituaries/Perea-Mccane-Hopkins/#!/TributeWall.
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