Sharon Gray Loppnow

There are some people whose presence makes others feel better, and Sharon was one of them. Kind, caring, generous, and deeply attentive to others, she had a rare gift for lifting spirits, listening deeply, asking thoughtful questions, and offering a hopeful perspective that could make a real difference in someone's day.

Sharon was born in Rockport, Kentucky, on September 1, 1936, and was the only child of Kermit Lee Gray and Verna Margaret (Durall) Gray. When she was seven, her family relocated to Waukegan, Illinois, because her father was stationed at Naval Station Great Lakes.

She began her college career at Illinois Wesleyan University, where she joined Kappa Kappa Gamma and formed friendships that lasted a lifetime. Those friendships became part of her family's story as well, including vacations with her sorority sisters, their husbands, and children in Onekama, Michigan. Sharon graduated from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in June of 1958 with a degree in education.

On June 21, 1958, Sharon wed David Hunt Loppnow, beginning a marriage that would last 68 years. They honeymooned in San Francisco, California, and then moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, where David continued serving in the U.S. Navy. In 1959, they moved to Santa Monica, California, where David began his career as an engineer with Litton Industries, Inc., and later worked for ITT Gilfillan in Van Nuys, California.

Together, Sharon and David built their family and made their home in Woodland Hills, California, where they raised their three children: Jeffrey Gray Loppnow (1959), Randall David Loppnow (1961), and Heather Lee Loppnow (1966).

Family was always Sharon's first priority. She especially loved celebrating holidays by cooking large meals and bringing family together in the Waterbury Street home she cherished. She was a devoted wife and mother whose greatest joy came from the people she loved.

Sharon began her teaching career at Kirk O' the Valley Preschool once Heather started school herself. She later worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District as a home teacher for children who were unable to attend regular classes because of illness or injury. She retired from LAUSD in the 1990s.

After retirement, Sharon and David traveled extensively, exploring destinations throughout the world together. She also remained active in her community. From the 1970s through the 2020s, she was involved with the Amigo Grads and was a very active member of the Woodland Hills Woman's Club, where she served for many years in leadership roles, including on the board. She treasured many meaningful friendships within these clubs and her community that lasted longer than 50 years.

Those who knew Sharon will remember not only her devotion to family, but also the way she made people feel. She was naturally positive, calming, and caring. She listened deeply and had an uncommon ability to help someone who was feeling down or discouraged see things from a more hopeful perspective. Simply being in Sharon's presence could lift a person's spirits. Her kindness and depth of caring left people feeling heard, valued, and better about themselves and their lives.

Sharon was preceded in death by her parents, Kermit Lee Gray (1976) and Verna Margaret (Durall) Gray (2005); her second son, Randall David Loppnow (2003); and two of her grandchildren, Sean Michael Loppnow (2021) and Jonathan Tyler Loppnow (2024).

She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Gray Loppnow, and his wife, Kathi; her daughter, Heather Lee (Loppnow) Briskie, and her husband, Doug Briskie; her grandchildren, Timothy Gray Loppnow and Matthew Hunt Loppnow; her great-grandchild, Kale Lauren Randall Loppnow; and three nieces and one nephew in Maryland.

Memorial Services

Catholic Funeral Mass

Friday, November 13, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church

32032 West Lindero Canyon Road

Westlake Village, California 91361

Reception

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Parish Hall at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church

Private Interment

The interment of David and Sharon’s ashes at Los Angeles National Cemetery in Westwood will be private. No public service will be held at the cemetery, and attendance there is by family invitation only.

Optional Memorial Donations

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Sharon's memory to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, supporting efforts to advance research toward better treatments and a cure for Parkinson's disease.