Lulu Lopreste

Lulu Jean (Brown) Lopreste, 94, died peacefully on July 17, 2025, surrounded by family. Born January 21, 1931 to George & Mary (Courtwright) Brown of Martins Ferry, OH, Lu was the 6th of 9 children. She was preceded in death by her brother, Charles, and sisters: Elsie Conaway, Evelyn Fishow, Dorothy Habermehl, JoAnn Nobile, and Clara Steele. Lu was married for 42 years to James Lopreste until his death in 1999. Surviving are 2 sons: Tony of Morgantown, WV, and Jim (Beverly) of Belpre, OH; 5 grandchildren: Nick, Michael, Aaron (Emily), Bethany, & Matthew; & 1 great grandchild, Cora Lynn. Also surviving are 2 sisters: Shirley Yanchek of Windsor Heights, WV, & Barbara Snyder of Martins Ferry, OH, as well as a host of nieces & nephews.
Lu fondly remembered growing up in a home rich in love, if not much else. Nine kids shared four beds & a cot at 303 Walnut St. All the kids worked as able: babysitting, cleaning houses & delivering newspapers; and when necessary, lined a shoe with some newspaper to fill a hole until new shoes could be bought. Lu was a proud graduate of Martins Ferry HS & attended every Purple Rider reunion, relishing the time with old friends. After graduation, Lu worked, as there was no money for college. Able to type 120 words per minute & proficient at shorthand, she became a secretary at Wheeling's Cook Waite Laboratory, but it was at S.R. Snodgrass where her boss put an accounting book on her desk, telling her to read it at home. 33 years later she retired as unofficial "office manager" of the nicest accounting firm in town. Lu always spoke of the wonderful co-workers and bosses she had the privilege of working with.
Born Methodist, Lu said she was raised by the Golden Rule - do unto others as you'd have them do to you. Joining the Catholic Church after marriage, she was a member at St. Michael & Corpus Christi parishes. When her memory began to fade in 2014, she fought to cope and lived independently until a fall in late 2020. She enjoyed living with family after that.
Visitation will be at Altmeyer Funeral Homes Wheeling Chapel, 1400 Eoff St., on Wednesday July 23, from 11:00 am-12:30pm. Burial will immediately follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Wheeling WV.