[1] John D. Hopper was born on January 9, 1923, and attended Camp Hill High School.

In 1941, Hopper enrolled at Dickinson College before joining the United States Army Air Corps as a volunteer and becoming a fighter pilot during World War II.

In his freshman year at Dickinson, Hopper met and married Ann Bowman, with whom he later had four children.

[2] Hopper worked in the insurance industry until his election in 1976 to the Pennsylvania State Senate to represent the 31st district.

He served until retiring in 1992 and was a member of the Judiciary, Community and Economic Development, Labor and Industry, Military and Veterans Affairs, and the Public Health and Welfare committees.