OPAL V. PILMER

Opal Virginia Pilmer, 92, of San Angelo passed away on April 12, 2010 at her residence. She was a sweet, loving Mom and Grandma who will always be missed by family and friends. Memorial service will 1:00 PM Sunday April 18, 2010 at the Robert Massie Riverside Chapel with J. T. Tucker, Chaplain of VistaCare Hospice, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of James Campbell and the staff of Robert Massie Funeral Home. Opal was born in Tuscarawas, Ohio to Clarence P. ('œShorty'�) and Marie Eckhardt on June 12, 1917, the oldest of seven children. After graduating from high school in Tuscawaras, she moved to Columbus, Ohio and began working at a pharmacy across the street from the Ohio State University campus. One day she caught the eye and captured the heart of a young OSU medical student named Gordon Pilmer. They were married on June 11, 1938 and spent the next decade in New York, Ohio, Georgia and California during his internship, residency and service in the United States Army. After completing his service, they moved to Texas where Opal was a full time Mom and homemaker until her husband'™s untimely death in 1967. Having not worked since her nuptials, Opal turned her hobby of sewing into a profession to support herself and her family. When Opal was not sewing, she was bowling (at times competitively), playing bridge (always competitively), tending to her flower beds or baking pies for friends and family. Opal was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Gordon Pilmer, her son Joe Pilmer and daughter Ginny Pilmer Smith. Opal is survived by her brother Dick Eckhardt of Tuscawaras, Ohio, her son John of San Antonio, her son Gordon, his wife Debbie and grandson Jonathan Pilmer of Houston, her late son Joe'™s wife Gayle Pilmer, grandson Jody Pilmer of Denver and granddaughter Amy Jo Pilmer of Fredericksburg, her late daughter Ginny'™s husband Jimmy Smith of Winters (her favorite son-in-law), granddaughters Sally Smith Arnold of Coleman and Jamie Smith Klassen of Leander and five great-grandchildren. Opal'™s family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to her wonderful caregivers Judy Martinez, Julie Underwood, Minerva Lopez and Virginia Torres, who were so intent on her comfort and well-being these last few years as well as to the staff of VistaCare Hospice. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the American Cancer Society, 3228 College Hills Boulevard, San Angelo, Texas 76904 or the Texas Heart Institute, c/o Development Office, MC 3-117, P.O. Box 20345, Houston, Texas 77225-0345.