Dorothy Melba Koepke

Dorothy Melba Koepke, 81, nee Beckmann, of Fredericksburg, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014.

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 2, at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church with the Rev. Dr. J. Jason Fry officiating.

Arrangements were under the direction of Fredericksburg Funeral Home where visitation was held Wednesday evening, Oct. 1.

Mrs. Koepke was born Feb. 13, 1933, in Beeville, the daughter of Dewey Charles Beckmann and Cullon Elizabeth Fry Beckmann. She married John Frederick Koepke on June 10, 1977, at First Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, and he survives.

A 1951 graduate of Gonzales High School, Mrs. Koepke received her bachelor’s degree in 1955 and her master’s degree in 1973 from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos.

She taught physical education in Brownsville, Harlingen and Corpus Christi, and from 1974-1989, served as Physical Education Consultant in the Corpus Christi Independent School District.

She retired from teaching in 1989.

Professionally, she was active in the Corpus Christi Classroom Teachers Association, the Texas Classroom Teachers Association, the Texas State Teachers Association and the Texas Association and American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Since moving to Fredericksburg in 1997, she was active in the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women, the Fredericksburg Emmaus Community, the Fredericksburg Ladies’ Golf Association, the Gillespie County Retired Teachers Association, the Texas Retired Teachers Association and the Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

She volunteered as a mentor in the Fredericksburg Independent School District; served on the Community Education Advisory Council of the FISD, and volunteered with the Meals-On-Wheels program at the Golden Hub Senior Center.

Mrs. Koepke is survived by her husband.

Memorials may be made to the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church Foundation, the Helen Tainter Circle or to the charity of choice.