Pimpler
ROUND ROCK—Gloria Jean (Jeanie) Skopek was born Sept. 24, 1938, in Houston, the daughter of August and Velma (Luedke) Skopek.
Gloria was baptized as an infant at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Deanville.
Mrs. Pimpler
In her early years, Gloria enjoyed spending time with her grandparents, Otto and Mary Luedke, in Deanville where he was t he Sunday School Superintendent at St. John’s Lutheran Church for 25 years. She was baptized there, and her family had donated the 800 lb. bell for the new Sanctuary in 1917. It still rings in Deanville today.
When they visited their grandparents on Sundays, they always attended Church and Sunday School, usually arriving early to sweep out the rooms and light the fire on cold days.
One of her favorite memories she retold us several times was that when her daddy went off to war, they spent the summers on her grandpa’s farm when she was 6 years old. She and her sister were riding atop a big wagonload of hay down a country road, when suddenly, the church bells began to ring, and the cotton gin whistle began to blow. Grandpa let out a whoop and waved his floppy old hat and shouted: “The war is over, now your Daddy can come home!”
Several months later, she and Becky were awakened in the middle of the night by their mommy and a handsome man in a uniform with a big duffle bag. Daddy was home!
Her family moved from Houston to Rockdale when she was 13 years old. Gloria met the love of her life, Carroll Lee Pimpler, in confirmation class at age 14. Both were confirmed in June 1953, at Peace Lutheran Church by Pastor F. T. Sager.
They at tended school together in Rockdale, where she “did every thing.” She was crowned Posture Queen, was in Girl Scouts, Luther League, church events, worked on the school paper, served on student council, on the pep squad, and won numerous awards including: Rotary Citizenship Award, Rotary Scholarship winner, Marjorie Award, and obtained individual Junior, Chapter and State FHA degrees.
She graduated from Rockdale High School in 1957.
Gloria and Carroll were married on Aug. 17, 1958, at Peace Lutheran Church in Rockdale by Pastor F. T. Sager.
Shortly after, Carroll was deployed in the U.S. Army to France.
Gloria lived with her parents in Austin until December, when she took a train to New York and eventually a plane to meet him in St. Jean de Angely, France, where they lived a “two-year honeymoon,” traveling to Spain, Belgium, Holland, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, and Germany.
Their first son, Ricky, was born in France in 1960. Then, just seven weeks later Gloria flew back with him to Texas, while Carroll returned via ship.
They settled in Rockdale where Carroll went to work for Gaither Motor Co.
Second son Randy was born in Rockdale in 1965.
They moved to Austin in 1966, when Carroll got a new job with Allstate.
Daughter Cheree was born in Austin in 1969.
They moved to Round Rock, and on Easter of 1971, they joined Palm Valley Lutheran Church where Gloria became active in Sunday School, Altar Guild, Bible Study and Lutheran Women’s Group.
In 1972, they moved a trailer house onto 5 acres off what she lovingly named “Red Bud Lane” and started building their dream home they have now lived in for over 50 years.
Gloria was involved in both the small-town communities of Round Rock, where they lived, and Hutto, where the kids moved to school in 1978.
Gloria worked as a seamstress, wrote for the Round Rock Leader and the Hutto Herald, worked at Behrens Appraisal, MUD Water Department, Hutto State Bank, Texas Heritage Bank, TaylorBanc Savings and Travis Central Appraisal District.
She held every office of the Chapparal Junior Women’s Club including president and won the award of Outstanding Club Woman. She was also treasurer of Trinity Lutheran Home.
They bought the Carpenter- Woolsey building in Hutto in 1984 and lovingly restored it. In 1986 she helped establish Hutto Chamber of Commerce, was involved in the Hutto Family Community & Education Club, the Cleanup Hutto campaign, the Light Up Hutto Christmas project and co-founded the Hutto Old Tyme Days Festival.
Gloria was a talented seamstress, quilter, homemaker, gardener, cook and loved researching her family genealogy.
She loved regularly playing 42 and Canasta with a circle of friends, loved caring for her children and grandchildren, and was devout in her faith with the most positive outlook on life.
Her grandchildren regard her as the most thoughtful, caring and loving person. They cherish memories of baseball in the backyard, pool parties, spaghetti dinners, lake trips, sewing, puzzles, board games, and Christmas dinners, not to mention home sewn clothes and costumes. The home she made was one where everyone was important, cared for, and welcome to “go sit down where it’s comfortable.”
Gloria Jean Pimpler, 84, of Round Rock was surrounded by her family when she passed to be with her Lord and Savior on Feb. 11, 2023.
Jeanie (as she was called by her friends) was pre-deceased by her parents, Velma and August Skopek.
She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Carroll Lee Pimpler; her sister, Becky and brother-in-law Jim Tatman; sister- in-law Barbara and husband Lannie Sager; her three children, Richard and wife Lisa, Randy, Cheree and her husband Rusty; her grandchildren, Brent Garcia and wife Melissa, Colton Pimpler, Russell Peterson, Ben Pimpler, and Cassidy Peterson; and her one great-grandchild, Sofia Garcia; also, numerous nieces, nephews and beloved friends.
Pallbearers will be sons Richard Pimpler, Randy Pimpler and Rusty Peterson and grandsons Colton Pimpler, Russell Peterson and Ben Pimpler.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to Palm Valley Lutheran Church, 2500 E. Palm Valley Blvd, Round Rock, TX 78664 or Oakridge Ministries, PO Box 542, Florence, TX 76527.
Viewing were to be held at 9 a.m. and funeral services at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at Palm Valley Lutheran Church in Round Rock.
Arrangements by Beck Funeral Home in Pflugerville, 512-251-3500.