Opal Arlone Thole
November 27, 1922 — November 20, 2012
Opal A. Thole
Opal Arlone Thole formerly of Fall River, died on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at the Eureka Nursing Center, in Eureka at the age of 89.
She was born on November 27, 1922, in Newton, the daughter of Ivan and Stella (Lang) Egy. She was raised in Hesston and graduated from Hesston High School and went on to attend Hesston College with a degree in teaching. She moved to Wichita and worked at Boeing. There she was united in marriage to Bob Heckendorn, they had no children. He preceded her in death from a car accident. Opal worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and became a supervisor in Accounting for 27 years.
On March 27, 1965, she was united in marriage to Elmer J. Thole in Wichita, and inherited a new family of Elmer’s five offspring, four were married, and one lived at home, in Wichita. In 1978, they retired to Fall River Lake. Her commitment to Elmer at that time was to live at the lake for five years. Elmer preceded her in death in 2004. She surprised everyone and lived at the lake another seven years till she suffered a stroke and was taken to Eureka Nursing Home.
Opal was a wonderful lady that always had a positive attitude with a lending hand, she was always the caregiver and loved unconditionally. Her favorite things to do were dancing and spending time with nieces, nephews, and grandkids. A member of the Old Time Fiddlers, Pickers, and Singers, and was an American Cancer Society Representative for Greenwood County.
She is survived by three daughters, Barbara Taylor of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Janice Smith of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and Vicki Dixon of Naples, Florida; one son, Norman Thole of Spring Hill; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Elaine Nigh of Wichita; and Lucille Showalter of Tucson, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, and one son, Jerry Thole.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at Koup Family Funeral Home with Pastor Tony Pameticky of the Severy Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Wichita.
Opal Arlone Thole formerly of Fall River, died on Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at the Eureka Nursing Center, in Eureka at the age of 89.
She was born on November 27, 1922, in Newton, the daughter of Ivan and Stella (Lang) Egy. She was raised in Hesston and graduated from Hesston High School and went on to attend Hesston College with a degree in teaching. She moved to Wichita and worked at Boeing. There she was united in marriage to Bob Heckendorn, they had no children. He preceded her in death from a car accident. Opal worked for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company, and became a supervisor in Accounting for 27 years.
On March 27, 1965, she was united in marriage to Elmer J. Thole in Wichita, and inherited a new family of Elmer’s five offspring, four were married, and one lived at home, in Wichita. In 1978, they retired to Fall River Lake. Her commitment to Elmer at that time was to live at the lake for five years. Elmer preceded her in death in 2004. She surprised everyone and lived at the lake another seven years till she suffered a stroke and was taken to Eureka Nursing Home.
Opal was a wonderful lady that always had a positive attitude with a lending hand, she was always the caregiver and loved unconditionally. Her favorite things to do were dancing and spending time with nieces, nephews, and grandkids. A member of the Old Time Fiddlers, Pickers, and Singers, and was an American Cancer Society Representative for Greenwood County.
She is survived by three daughters, Barbara Taylor of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Janice Smith of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and Vicki Dixon of Naples, Florida; one son, Norman Thole of Spring Hill; 16 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 23 great-great-grandchildren; two sisters, Elaine Nigh of Wichita; and Lucille Showalter of Tucson, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, and one son, Jerry Thole.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at Koup Family Funeral Home with Pastor Tony Pameticky of the Severy Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Wichita.
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