Jo-Lou (Meitzen) Gaupp

Jo-Lou (Meitzen) Gaupp passed away peacefully on February 26, 2023, in Arlington, Texas at the age of 95. She was born in Live Oak, Florida, to Ernest and Lillie (Carson) Meitzen. The second of five children, including Ernest Jr., John, Carson, and Bill Arnold, Jo-Lou was the last surviving sibling. She came from a family that, for three generations, was dedicated to public service.

After high school in Dickinson, Texas., Jo-Lou attended Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas on scholarship and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Music. It was there that she met Peter George Gaupp, whom she married, and with whom she raised two children, Robin June and Andrew Christopher. Before working as a homemaker and community volunteer, Jo-Lou taught music in the Dickinson, Texas, Independent School District, served as a secretary in Austin, and legal secretary in Georgetown and in Beaumont.

Jo-Lou served as a volunteer for several non-profit, community organizations and for the churches to which she belonged in the Dallas/Fort Worth/Arlington area, including: First Community Church of Dallas, First Congregational Church of Fort Worth, The League of Women Voters, LIFT, Citizens for Community Health, Meals on Wheels, and The Audubon Society (as a spotter) among others. For most of her life, Jo-Lou sang in church choirs, and taught her children and the neighborhood children music.

She supported her husband Peter’s work in many ways, from helping at a children’s home where he worked at in Waco, Texas, to typing both his Master’s thesis and his PhD dissertation. Jo-Lou was a good sounding board for him and his work, and she provided active support for his efforts to create accessible health and dental care in North Texas and many other public service projects. Jo-Lou was active in women’s rights and social justice initiatives in Dallas County and served as a Brownie and Girl Scout troop leader.

Jo-Lou loved singing in church choirs and playing the piano and singing with the family. Her taste in music ranged from folk, jazz, blues, to classical works. An avid bird watcher, Jo-Lou loved nature, travel, and camping with the family throughout the US and parts of Canada. Other pastimes included playing bridge and dominoes with family and friends, and she was known as a rescuer of various stray animals, with some of them becoming beloved family pets.

Immediate and extended family and friends held a very special place in Jo-Lou’s heart. When family would visit, she would craft delicious meals and desserts to demonstrate her love for them all.

Jo-Lou is predeceased by her parents, Ernest R. Meitzen Sr.and Lille Mae Carson Meitzen, and siblings, Rev. Ernest R. Meitzen, Jr., John Meitzen, Carson Meitzen Flak and husband Henry Flak, and William A. Meitzen, Esq., sister-in-law Joyce Meitzen Davis Clark, mother-in-law Ilse Gaupp, father-in-law Dr. Frederick E. Gaupp, brother-in-law Dieter Gaupp, sister-in-law Fannie Belle Gaupp, and nephews Terry E. Meitzen, John Robert Meitzen, Larry Flak, and Richard August Flak.

She is survived by her husband Dr. Peter George Gaupp, daughter Dr. Robin Gaupp, son Prof. Andrew Gaupp, daughters-in-law Prof. Gloria Birkholz, Esq. and Dr. Natalie Jane Gaupp, grandson Jonathan Birkholz, granddaughter-in-law Dr. Elizabeth Prince, granddaughters, Marilyn Gaupp and Ella Gaupp, sisters-in-law, Mary Belle Meitzen and Agatha Janis Billups Meitzen, nieces, Dr. Mae Ellen Meitzen Kelver and husband Kenneth Lee Jencks, Margaret Loflin Menn and husband Mark Menn, and Amanda Meitzen Lacour, nephews, Bill Gaupp and wife Patty Gaupp, Robert Loflin, Joseph Meitzen, and Dr. John E. Meitzen, Jr. and wife Rose Good Meitzen, as well as many other greatly loved family members and dear friends.

A memorial service for Jo-Lou Gaupp will be held on Saturday, March 25, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. at First Congregational Church, 4201 Trail Lake Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76109. A reception will follow at the church. Inurnment at Rose Hill Cemetery in Denton, Texas will occur at a later date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions remembering Jo-Lou to your favorite church choir, the League of Women Voters, the Metropolitan Opera, or the Audubon Society.