Helen Levon Stroupe

Helen Levon Stroupe
'Stroupie'
July 16, 1915 -
March 22, 2011
A long and happy life ended on March 22, 2011 with the death of Helen Levon Stroupe, 95. Known by all as 'Stroupie,' she was born in Charlotte on July 16, 1915, and lived most of her life here. She grew up on Clement Avenue and graduated from Queens College in 1937 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. In 1939 she received the M.L.S. in Librarianship from Emory University. Endlessly curious, she studied at Vanderbilt, Columbia University, and NYU and continued taking humanities courses - reading extensively and traveling in Europe and Canada well into her 80s.
The daughter of Carrie Hurst Stroupe and John Dewitt Stroupe, Stroupie was the youngest of five children. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brothers, Jack and Fred; and sisters, Nell and Ruby. She is survived by niece, Jean Christ, of Aptos, California, as well as by nephews, Paul and Harvey Ritch.
Stroupie is also survived by her huge family of friends, including her godson, Jonathan Hadley, on whom she doted. She was a magnet for all sorts of people, especially ones who loved books, but also anyone with a sense of fun and joie de vivre, and a willingness to join her in Trivial Pursuit.
In her 30s and early 40s, Stroupie loved living in Greenwich Village and biking to the New York City Library where she worked as a reference librarian. Passion for NY theatre took her not once, but twice to see Marlon Brando in the original production of 'A Streetcar Named Desire.' When the play ended and long after everyone else had left, she continued clapping until an usher told her she needed to leave. Not having had enough, she returned another time, sat on the front row and felt Brando's sweat popping onto her face.
Upon returning to NC, Stroupie lived at times with Sister Ruby on Creola Road in Charlotte; at times, in Lincolnton; and every moment possible, she escaped to her cabin on Jonas Ridge.
Dr. Ethel Abernathy of Queens College introduced Stroupie to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and in 1960 Stroupie was one of the founding members of Charlotte Friends Meeting. She served the Meeting in many leadership roles through the years, and her spirit and wit were an inspiration to all. Even as her health declined, she was faithful in attendance.
Stroupie was an avid activist for human and civil rights of all kinds. Her face is among the few white faces captured in the front-page photo taken by The Charlotte Observer at the service conducted in memory of Dr. King after his assassination in 1968.
During Stroupie's tenure as a librarian at Lincolnton High School, in 1969 the senior class dedicated the annual, the 'Pine Burr' to her. The dedication reads: In appreciation to our 'Stroupie' - one whose life is filled with so many interesting things, yet who is never too busy to stop and say a kind word to her students--who stands constantly ready to help all who call upon her -- to one whose understanding, unselfishness, genuineness and humility have made her beloved by students and faculty.
For many years Stroupie's favorite place on earth was her mountain home on Gingercake Road where she fed hummingbirds, held court with friends, read the New Yorker on the deck, and enjoyed stunning views of Grandfather Mountain. She delighted in seeing bare, winter trees silhouetted against red sunsets and felt that was 'the sexiest time of the day!' The full bookshelves in her 'cabbie' were labeled and arranged a la the Dewey Decimal System. And framed on a nearby wall was a peacock feather from Flannery O'Conner's farm in Milledgeville. One of her favorite novels was 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' and she always thought of herself as Scout. All her life she was the most honest, guileless Scout.
Stroupie opened her arms to the world, as exemplified in her creed that hung on the cabin wall: 'I invite all persons without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, previous participation in demonstrations and insurrections, previous condition of servitude, educational level, intelligence quotient, and psychic derangements to make this cabin home.'
For Stroupie, life was at its best whenever it was snowing. She continued to make snow angels long after most people had given that up and even threw herself down in the snow outside the airport in her 80s before leaving for Italy.
Her last home was in Memory Care at Carriage Club of Charlotte. Her friends and family are grateful for the extraordinary care she received from the staff, nurses and physician - all loving caregivers who went out of their way to keep her comfortable and who kept her NY coffee mug filled with hot coffee. Much appreciation is also extended to Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region for their kind support of Stroupie during the last weeks of her life. The night before she died, she was still singing-this time, 'I'd love to get you on a slow boat to China!' Her attentive caregivers said that Stroupie's joy and spirit made it easy for them to care for her.
In Stroupie's memory, niece Jean Christ has organized an education program with puppets for schools in Aptos, California.
Memorials may be made to The Friends Meeting House, P.O. Box 561793, Charlotte, NC 28256-1793; or to Avery County Public Library, 150 Library Place, Newland, NC 28657.
A service in celebration of Stroupie's life will be held on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. in the Chapel of J.B. Tallent Funeral Service, followed by a reception.
Arrangements are in the care of J.B. Tallent Funeral Service.