Submitted by
Karen Stewart

Opal Smith

BLACKWELL — Opal "Inez" Smith, Ponca City resident, died Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003, in Blackwell. She was 91.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2003, in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Ponca City with the Rev. Andy Jobe, Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church of Blackwell, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home.

Opal "Inez" Smith was born on June 2, 1912, in Corydon, Ind., to Walter P. and Sabitha A. (Rainbolt) Wright. At an early age she and her family moved to Ponca City where she attended Lincoln Elementary School and graduated from Ponca City High School in 1929. On July 29, 1931, she married Howard A. Smith in Winfield, Kan. They made their home in Ponca City, where she was a homemaker. She was also a member of the 55 and Older Club and the Second Baptist Church of Ponca City. She enjoyed crocheting, research genealogy and spending time with her family.

Survivors include her daughters Susan A. Bergeson of Bartlesville, Patsy J. Hillhouse of Blackwell, and Linda L. Willison of Liberty, Mo.; one brother, Winston "Chick" Wright of West Linn, Ore.; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband on Sept. 8, 1973; her daughter, Donna L. Smith on July 2, 1952; her brother, Weldon D. "Bud" Wright on Nov. 17, 1986; and her great-granddaughter, Alysha M. Harter on Aug. 28, 2003.

Honorary casket bearers will be John A. Hillhouse, Jason M. Hillhouse, Thaddeus G. Willison, Joshua L. Willison, Nathaniel R. Willison, Nick Harter, Jesse D. Harter and Ryan M. Hillhouse.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Ponca City Library for genealogy, 515 E. Grand, Ponca City, OK 74601.