Longtime teacher Lois Dupree dies at 84.

BURBANK -- Lois Stiles Dupree, who taught at Burbank elementary

schools for 33 years and was active in several local service clubs and

charitable organizations, died Monday in Pasadena. She was 84.

Mrs. Dupree was born in Cedar Falls, Iowa. She lived in Burbank for 40

years. For 33 years she taught kindergarten, first and third grades at

Joaquin Miller, Thomas Jefferson and Providencia elementary schools.

Her daughter, Kathleen Dupree, said her mother had a strong effect on

her students, even after her retirement in the mid-1970s.

“When I was older and my mother and I would be shopping in Burbank,

quite often she would have someone walk up to her and say, ‘Are you Mrs.

Dupree?’ For people to remember her years later is pretty remarkable,”

Kathleen Dupree said.

Mrs. Dupree earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of

Northern Iowa in 1937. In 1965, she completed a master’s degree in

education at Cal State Northridge. She continued to take classes at

several local universities and colleges.

Her memberships included the Burbank and Glendale branches of the

American Association of University Women, Woman’s Club of Burbank, Ebell

of Los Angeles, the Burbank and Los Angeles chapters of the Daughters of

the American Revolution, Los Feliz Woman’s Club and the St. Joseph

Hospital Foundation.

Kathleen Dupree said her mother was an adept bridge player and enjoyed

growing roses.

“I think she was ahead of her time in women’s rights,” she said. “She

had a good spirit and was always very active.”

Mrs. Dupree is survived by her sons, David of Burbank and Richard L.

Bowen; daughter, Kathleen Dupree; brother, Rollin S. Stiles; and sister,

Mary S. Randak.

Her husband, Donald, died in 1985.

“Her philosophy was ‘do what you think, don’t worry about what other

people think, do what you think is important,’ ” Kathleen said. “She was

always a teacher.”

A memorial service was held Thursday at Eckerman-Heisman Funeral

Service Chapel. Interment was private.