Opal, 100, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family. Opal was born in Hooker, Oklahoma. She was a farmer's daughter until her family moved to Perryton, Texas. She was a High School basketball player and went to beautician school after graduating High School. She lived through the Great Depression and the "Dust Bowl." Opal speaks about watching out the window of the house as a big black wall of dust came towards them.
In 1943, she joined the Navy and became a Navy Wave. She learned how to do the electrical wiring on B-52 planes. It was while she was stationed in Kingsville, Texas that she met Clarence Otis Willis, who was also in the Navy and stationed at Kingsville. They were married May 20, 1944. Opal served during WWII for a few months until she was honorably discharged after marriage. Opal stayed in Kingsville until Clarence was sent to the Pacific and she returned to her family in Perryton to wait for him. Two children were born over the next few years, Lynette Aileen and Phillip Everett.
As the children became older, Opal wanted to raise them in a Christian faith. Opal was raised a Methodist and wanted to have the children baptized in that faith. But, Clarence wanted her to go to the church of his faith he had been baptized into when he was a young boy in North Carolina. After one Sunday attending, the children had learned more about Jesus than they ever had at any other church they had attended. The missionaries were called to teach the gospel to Opal and her family. Opal and her children were baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints on November 29, 1957 and Clarence became active again.
After Clarence retired from the Navy and the Post Office, Opal and Clarence went to BYU to study genealogy. After they graduated, they went on a proselyting mission to Northern Ireland. They also went on a genealogy mission to Alabama, where they negotiated with the county judges to have the records microfilmed. Opal even penned a complete genealogy for the Foglesong family including several stories of her life and her ancestors.
Opal and Clarence always inspired their children with their strength in living the gospel, loving people, and keeping their faith.
Opal turned 100 in February and enjoyed each slice of cake she was given. Opal was a fun character with witty sayings, loved her chocolate (a passion she has passed on to her great-grandchildren) and a cold cup of milk, loved talking about her childhood and growing up in Oklahoma and Texas, and was a very humble and patient woman who loved her Heavenly Father and her family very much.
Opal is survived by her daughter Lynette Aileen (Robert Frank deceased) Resch, her grandchildren James (Martha) Willis, Jordan (Natalie) Resch, Amanda (Phil) MacDonald, Robert Resch, and Anna Resch, as well as her eleven great-grandchildren as well as her lovingly adopted children Jeannie and Jim Fowler and Marcia and Stephen West. Opal was preceded in death by her parents and siblings, her husband Clarence Otis Willis, her son Phillip (Lani Eakle) Willis, and her grandson Adam Willis.
The family wishes to thank all the wonderful nurses at Rocky Mountain Hospice Care as well as the numerous volunteers who would come and visit and sing with Opal. Your service was greatly appreciated.
Funeral services will be held Saturday June 3, 2017 at the Memorial Estates Mountain View Cemetery with Bishop Edwin Fisher conducting. Friends may join the graveside service at 10:00 am at the Memorial Estates Mountain View Cemetery (3115 E. 7800 S., Cottonwood Heights, Utah 84121). Military rites and interment will be in the Memorial Estates Mountain View Cemetery.
