Opal Lesta (Dean) Slagle

Opal Lesta (Dean) Slagle, formerly of the Waterloo and Gallipolis communities, died on Monday, November 26, 2012 at Arbors of Gallipolis. Opal was born to William Arlie and Metta Pearl (Miller) Dean on February 18, 1922 in Wood County, Ohio. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by three brothers: Lowell, Lyman and Harold Dean; one sister: Lois Harrison; one great grandson, Brandon Coley, and one great- great grandson, Daniel Lewis. She was preceded in death by the father of her six children: Hobert Edsel Slagle. She was the loving, devoted mother to six children: Karen (Roger) Wilson of Columbus, OH; Lois Ann Brown of Toldeo, OH; Rosemary (Dana) Helmondollar of Chesapeake, OH; Dennis (Donna) Slagle of Chesapeake, OH; Janet (Denver) Hill of Gallipolis, OH; and Betty Jo (Tom) Taylor of Chesapeake, OH. She is also survived by one sister, Elsie Faye Applegate of Bourbonnais, Il; 7 grandchildren: Vicki (Clyde) Caldwell of Croton, OH; Christine (Clyde) Brown-Coley of Toledo, OH; David Todd Reiter of Angola, IN; Susan Brown of Bowling Green, OH; Donald and Richard Brown of Toledo, OH; and Jessica (John Paul) Kelley of Chesapeake, OH; a special nephew, Merrill (Maxine) Harrison of Bulls Gap, TN; a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family; and a special friend/classmate, Wayne Rucker of Ironton, OH, who shared many hours with her while she resided at Morning Pointe Ridge in Russell, KY. Opal graduated from Waterloo High School in 1940, and delighted in talking about the Waterloo Wonders and attending the Waterloo School Reunions. She retired from the US Postal Service as the Waterloo Postmaster in 1992. She was a member for many years at the Waterloo Methodist Church, until she moved to Gallipolis, OH where she became a member of the Good News Baptist Church. Opal loved teaching children about Christ and willingly served as a Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teacher. She was also a member of the Kitts Hill Homemaker’s Club. Services will be 11 AM Thursday, November 29, 2012 at Willis Funeral Home in Gallipolis, OH, with Rev. Bill Goodall, a close family friend, and Pastor Eric Fannin officiating. Family and friends may visit at the funeral home on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 from 6 – 8 PM, and one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Gallia Baptist Cemetery in Gallia, OH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holzer Hospice. The family expresses their appreciation to the third floor staff at Arbors of Gallipolis and to the nurses with Holzer Hospice.