Germaine Hupe

Germaine Hupe passed away peacefully on December 15, 2025, in the presence of her family. Germaine was an iconic figure in Winters, California, where she taught at Winters High School for more than thirty years. Born an Iowa farm girl in 1932 and the eldest of eight children, Germaine and her family, the Walgenbachs, moved out west in the 1940s, eventually settling in Davis. Germaine attended Davis Senior High School and UC Davis where she was the first female graduation speaker in 1954. Germaine was a Phi Beta Kappa scholar and earned her master’s degree from Claremont College at the age of twenty-two. She moved to Monterey, California where her first job was teaching GED classes for U.S. Army soldiers stationed at the Presidio. It was there that she met a young Army Lieutenant named Howard Hupe who was the love of her life. They were married in 1958 and Germaine began an adventurous life traveling the world as a military wife. Germaine and Howard were stationed at Ft. Missoula, Montana, Augsburg, Germany, and Ft. Lewis, Washington. Her two sons, Bruce and Jeffrey, were born during these years. Germaine returned to Davis in 1967 to be close to family while Howard was sent to Viet Nam. After Howard returned, Germaine and her family were stationed in Tehran, Iran for several years. Germaine was soon teaching at the American High School in Tehran were she also directed several plays, the beginning of her love for the theatre.

After Howard retired from the Army in 1972, Germaine and her family came home to Davis where they were finally able to put down roots. Germaine was quickly hired to teach English at Winters High School. Before long History, Literature, World Civilization, Mythology and of course, Shakespeare, were all added to her list of courses. Germaine loved teaching at Winters High! Although Germaine and Howard purchased their first and only home in Davis, they spent almost all their time in the town they felt closest to - Winters; often driving back and forth on Road 31 multiple times a day. In December 1980 Germaine and Howard, along with several dear friends, founded the Winters Theatre Company (WTC). Their shared love of the theatre saw Germaine and Howard acting and directing in countless plays along with their fellow thespians from Winters and the surrounding communities. Germaine would introduce and then perform in the Company's Shakespeare in the Park series and even wrote a few original plays to include the recently performed melodrama "Phantom of the Opera House," which sold out performances in the Winters Opera House, now under the auspices of the WTC. Germa

ine relished the opportunity to dance the Can-Can for melodrama audiences!

As much as they loved Winters, Germaine and Howard's affection for the town was returned many times over. They were voted Winters Citizens of the Year in 1986, and Germaine was Grand Marshall for the Youth Day Parade. In 2002 Germaine retired from teaching at Winters High, but she could never completely leave the profession. She began teaching a series of college level adult education classes for the Osher Life-Long Learning Institute (OLLI) at UC Davis. Germaine's courses ran the gamut from Shakespeare to Mythology, Women of the Bible to Gunslingers and Notorious Women of the Old West, the California Missions to Great Indian Chiefs. Germaine could literally teach almost anything and her courses become some of the most popular OLLI offered. In 2014 Germaine was selected for the inaugural class of the Winters Joint Unified School District Hall of Fame. Germaine continued teaching through 2025.

A true class act, Germaine Hupe’s beauty, charm, sense of humor and absolutely piercing intellect left an indelible impression on all who came to know her. Germaine is survived by her sons Bruce and Jeffery Hupe and their families, brother Gary Walgenbach, sisters Judith Braden and Susan Telford and their families, and numerous nieces and nephews

In lieu of gifts or flowers the family requests that donations be made in Germaine’s memory to the Winters Theatre Company at PO Box 728, Winters, CA 95694.

A Rosary will be recited Wednesday, January 14, 2026 at 6:00 PM at Smith Funeral Home (116 D Street, Davis, CA).   The Funeral Mass will be held Thursday, January 15th 10:00 AM at St. James Catholic Church (1275 B Street,  Davis, CA). A brief graveside service follows at the Davis Cemetery. A reception will begin at approximately 12:30 PM at the Winters Opera House.