Unique gift tells woman’s life story

Lucille Hoppes has been around for 82 Christmases. This one, however, was the best one yet, and one that she will carry in her heart throughout the New Year.

"I've had some good ones, but this was the best Christmas I've ever had," she said. "This was just unique."

So unique, in fact, that the 83-year-old said she was left speechless. "I couldn't talk. All I could do was cry," she said when she opened a gift in the presence of her sons. Well, sort of, since one was in Shelbyville with her and the other was in California.

"What happened was my son from Columbus (Frank Amos) was here Christmas Day with his wife and son. He got my other son (Glen Amos) and his family from California on speakerphone, then, he had me open my present. I thought something was up when he called his brother."

Hidden beneath the wrapping paper was a tribute to their mother — a photographic portrait with "the two men she loved above all others" — her late husbands, Paul Amos and David Hoppes, both of whom were U.S. Navy veterans.

"It really surprised me," Hoppes said, still overwhelmed with emotions as evidenced by tear-filled eyes and a gentle quiver on her lips. The portrait blends memories from her heart that will now be displayed in Hoppes's home for all to see.

"It's a one-of-a-kind portrait (by Custom Honors)," she said. A photograph of herself at age 19 appears in the center with her "first love," husband Paul Amos, in a Naval uniform to her right when he was a young adult, and "last love" David Hoppes, also in a Naval uniform as a young adult, to her left. A photograph of each man later in life is displayed above each of their heads with their bride, Lucille, at their sides. Stars and stripes of the American flag form the background, along with maps of Guam and Pearl Harbor, where the men were stationed for their military service.

"I met Paul at Mount Auburn High School. We were classmates. I was 14 or 15," she said. "I was his girl, but I didn't know it. I couldn't figure out why none of the boys would talk to me. I went to parties and wondered why no one would dance with me. I thought, ‘what the heck is wrong with me? Oh well ... maybe they're shy.' I found out he told all the other boys at the school to leave me alone because I was going to be his girl!"

According to Hoppes, Amos "officially" became her boyfriend when she was 15 and he was 16. One year later, they married on March 23, 1944. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1945 and went to Guam. "He was ready to go to Japan when the end of (World War II) was declared, so he returned home in 1946."

The couple remained married for 36 years until his death at age 54. He farmed, taught a welding class at Shelbyville High School and drove a school bus. The story of their courtship is summarized on the custom portrait.

"I met David in 1984. I wasn't looking," Hoppes said. He was the brother of a friend of hers and lived in California. "He, too, lost a spouse about the same time I lost Paul. The very first time he came to meet me, he brought me a flower. On our fourth date, he brought me an engagement ring."

David, she said, was one of the survivors of Pearl Harbor, having served in the Navy from 1937 to 1957. Before he retired, he worked in the construction industry. In fact, for seven years, he was a supervisor and inspector who oversaw the building of structures in Saudi Arabia.

"For our first date, David showed up driving a white Caddy. He looked like a knight in shining armor to me," she said, reading her words as inscribed on the tribute portrait. "He put me on a pedestal. ... He gave me an extended family I love and took me places I never would have seen without him." The couple had been married for 19 years prior to his death in 2003.

"I don't know what I did to deserve two good men," Hoppes said. "So many women are in abusive relationships, and I can't understand that because mine were so good to me."

Not too long ago, Hoppes handwrote her life story for her children and stepchildren. A friend then typed it and prepared copies for them. "I wanted them to know how different things were and how little we had, and how proud we were to get a gas lantern and eventually electricity," she said.

The tribute portrait will hang in her living room, allowing family and other visitors the chance to learn more about Lucille Hoppes.

Author: Luann Mason, The Shelbyville News. Article copyright 2010 The Shelbyville News. Reprinted by permission.