Surrounded intermittently for the last two weeks of her life by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, Opal Hogan Topper went to be with the Lord on March 3, 2018.  She was born on July 5, 1928, the second oldest of eleven children.  Hers was a humble lifestyle.  She loved the Lord. She loved her family. She loved her friends. She loved her home.

Opal had an inner strength and grace about her that manifest itself in independence. She routinely made herself open and available to forge relationships with her growing family and had the flexibility to be welcoming and hospitable.

Following graduation from high school in Melvin, TX in 1945, she moved to Odessa and initially worked as a switchboard operator for Southwestern Bell.  Two years later, she married E.L. Topper, Jr. They were married at Immanuel Baptist Church in Odessa and began a life long commitment to that family of faith.  E. L. served as a deacon and Opal was involved in the WMU (Women's Missionary Union) and served as a leader the G.A.'s (Girl's Axillary).  Sixty plus years is a long time to Worship in the same family of faith, but Opal was resolute in her belief that is where she belonged.  Following E.L.'s death, she began working with 4 year olds in the church nursery.

She loved West Texas. Following the death of her husband seventeen years ago, her adult children periodically attempted to redirect her path and encouraged her to move closer to them. She would simply smile and say, "No".  She was a West Texas woman through and through and she held on to that resolve until health issues forced her hand.

She moved from Odessa to Henly (Dripping Springs), TX in January 2018.  Having a natural love for gardening and for plants, she immediately began planning in her head the things she wanted to do come spring. She would smile when she verbalized that she really liked her new home. It wasn't a pretense. It was a genuine affirmation.

Opal is survived by her children, Treva Topper Forrester and her husband Don - Henly,TX, Reverend Ernest Topper III and his wife Joni - Johnson City, TX, and Janetta Topper Kleier and her husband Alan – Redington Shores, FL.; 8 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. She is also survived by 3 siblings, Judy Connor- Shallowater, TX, Wayne Hogan, Florida, and Charles Hogan – Hickory, NC.

She was preceded in death by her husband, E.L. Topper, Jr., an infant daughter, Wilda Marie Topper; her parents Manuel Hogan and Annie Hudson Hogan and 8 siblings: Frances Tice, Art Hogan, Fay Allison, E.J. Hogan, Dwayne Hogan, Roy Hogan and Floyd Hogan.

Professionally, she was primarily a wife, homemaker and mother who worked part time in the school cafeteria at Burnet Elementary.  She also did the accounting and books for her husband's business, Topper Sheet Metal.

Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 PM, Monday, March 5, 2018 at Crofts – Crow Funeral Home, 305 E. Elm St., Johnson City, TX 78636 where funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday morning.  Additional services will be held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at the Chapel of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home, 6801 E. Business 20, Odessa, TX 79762.  Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens.