Marjorie Elizabeth Hoppe

Marjorie Elizabeth Hoppe , loving and caring wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend, passed from this world at home in Long Beach, California, on Monday, July 29, 2024, at the age of 98.

She was born to Paul and Katherine Levengood on January 24, 1926, in Washington, D.C., moving to Los Angeles with her family two years later. During World War II, she completed her high school education as the class valedictorian in Boulder City, Nevada, due to her father’s temporary wartime industry transfer there. After returning home, Marjorie completed her Associate of Arts degree at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and began her secretarial career at Union Oil Company.

Marjorie met William Hoppe, her husband of 45 years, when the two agreed to a blind date as part of a double date arranged by mutual friends. As the date progressed, the friends commented that Marjorie and William were getting along as if they already knew each other. Indeed, that was the case, as unknown to their friends, William had secretly contacted Marjorie to go out together prior to the blind date, revealing that they had dated several times already. For their first date, they saw the movie “The African Queen,” starring Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn, which remained one of their favorite films.

After their marriage on Valentine’s Day in 1953, the couple settled in Culver City, California, where William was assistant administrator of Culver City Hospital. They moved to nearby Long Beach in 1955 when William became administrator of Long Beach Hospital, where Marjorie also served with distinction as a member of the hospital’s board of directors. After raising their family, she resumed her secretarial career at Los Altos United Methodist Church, retiring in 1997. Her memberships included the Assistance League of Long Beach and Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority.

Marjorie was a skilled cook and loved to entertain, hosting countless parties and events at home over the years. Her favorite pastime was reading, which she enjoyed for her entire life. Until the end, she regretted having to give up her books and 5-foot stack of comic books to the World War II paper drives when her family moved to Nevada. Marjorie was also a skilled pianist, performing both a 26-page 2-piano Haydn concerto and a 52-page 2-piano Beethoven concerto by memory with her teacher for her final recital. Her love and knowledge of music became a fundamental part of her children’s upbringing. Her sharp, sophisticated, and witty sense of humor was well-known, and her laughter will be missed.

She was a veteran traveler, seeing most of the United States, Canada, and Europe with her family, and visiting most of the rest of the world on many trips and cruises with her husband. But Marjorie’s home was always her favorite place to be, and especially if her family and friends were also there.

Marjorie was lovingly and faithfully devoted to her children, William Jr. (Kristina), Elizabeth (Donald), and Robert (Sherril); her thirteen grandchildren; and twelve great-grandchildren.

A private interment will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, with a celebration of Marjorie’s life to be held at a future date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ( www.lls.org ), the American Red Cross ( www.redcross.org ), or to a recipient of the donor’s choosing.