Obituary of Zelma Lopp

Zelma was born on September 22, 1919 in Meeker, Oklahoma, the first of four children of Mary and Noble Ramey. She passed into the arms of our Lord on September 4, 2009. Zelma will be met in Glory by her parents, her husband Jim; brother Thomas J. (TJ), and daughter Yvonne Getty. Her memory will be kept alive by sisters Frances Harris and Urline Silvey; sons James and Gary; daughters in law Pam Lopp and Mary Lopp; grandsons Brian, Darrell, Timothy and Matthew; granddaughters Shelby Morasca and Christy Stacey, nieces Elwanda Gammill, Helene Wallise, Sheryl Macias and Shawn Silvey; and great grandchildren Peyton Lopp and Sydney Stacey. Zelma grew up in Meeker Oklahoma and was graduated from Meeker High School in 1938. Shortly thereafter, to escape the ravages of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl made famous by John Steinbeck in his classic novel "The Grapes of Wrath", she accompanied her parents and family as they relocated to Salinas California, ironically the home town of John Steinbeck. While working at Raiters Cannery in Salinas, she met and married Jim Lopp. In the finest tradition of the World War II Greatest Generation, Zelma and family weathered the hardships of the global war, which included uncertainty of loved ones in harm's way as well as rationing of food and gasoline. Zelma was a strong willed woman with the work ethic only growing up on a farm can instill. She often observed that she even had to pick cotton as child on the family farm in Oklahoma on her birthday, unless it was a Sunday. An intelligent, articulate woman, she excelled in school and daily read passages from the bible. She loved her husband, her family, her God, the color red, roosters and chocolate. As a devote Christian, she neither smoked nor drank. She and her husband Jim donated many hours to the church helping with youth activities and visiting ailing parishioners. Zelma enjoyed cooking, crocheting, gardening and traveling with her husband in their camper to visit family and friends. The family wishes to thank the staff of Grace House of Austin Texas and Hospice Austin for their professional and loving care during Zelma's prolonged illness FUNERAL SERVICES will be held at the Salinas Valley Community Church, 368 San Juan Grade Road, at 11am on September 10th. Following the service a private burial will follow at the Garden of Memories..