LTC Jack Hagopian

Lt. Col. Jack Hagopian, USAF (Ret.) passed away October 22, 2013 in Huntsville, Alabama. He was born in South Bend, Indiana, the ninth child of Hagop and Herepsime Hagopian of Armenian extraction, who legally immigrated from Turkey around the turn of the 20th Century and became proud American citizens.

Lt. Col. Hagopian had a strong interest in the Boy Scouts, attained the rank of Eagle Scout with Silver Palm, and was privileged to see each of his three sons and two grandsons also become Eagle Scouts.

He worked for a number of years at the Studebaker Automotive Factory in South Bend. He enlisted in the U.S. Army from 1943-1946 serving in the South Pacific and saw action on Saipan and Tinian. He returned home and earned his Bachelor's Degree from the University of Indiana in Business Administration.

After working for a number of years in the Banking Industry, he was recalled to active duty during the Korean War. He served as an intelligence officer in the Army Air Corps and later the U.S. Air Force. He served various assignments throughout the world including the Middle East serving in Lybia and three tours in Turkey. He would then serve two more duties of combat, first in the Dominican Republic (1965) and later Vietnam (1968). He retired from the Air Force in 1976 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 33 years of military service. He then became the Director of Information and Education for the Alabama State Conservation Department. He was an Alternate Delegate from the State of Alabama to the Republican National Convention in 1980 supporting President Reagan. He was a Master Mason and a 32 degree member of the Scottish Rite. He cherished his membership at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Hunstville.

Lt. Col. Hagopian was preceded in death by Dorothy, his loving wife of 54 years. He is survived by his four children, LTC Jack Hagopian USA (Janine), Jeff Hagopian (Beth), Trish (CAPT Jeff Jablon USN) and Mark Hagopian (Kimball); grandchildren, Andrew, Meghan, Ben, Nick, Ryan, Ethan, Shannon, Paige, Grace, Chase and Katy; and sister-in-law, Mary Dietz.

05/23/2022 EJS