Opal Evelyn Patterson

1923 - 2014

Opal Evelyn Patterson passed away Sunday, July 6, 2014, at the age of 90 at a local nursing home surrounded by her loving family. Funeral: 2 p.m. Friday at Worth Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Interment: Emerald Hills Memorial Park. Visitation: 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Emerald Hills Funeral Home. Memorials: Memorial tributes will be equally divided between the Mount Abarim Baptist Translators, led by her grandson, Dr. Bill Patterson, and the Chilpancingo Mexican Ministry, led by her grandson, the Rev. Nathan Patterson. These gifts may be made through Worth Baptist Church or Mount Abarim Baptist Mission International. Opal was born Oct. 1, 1923, in Fort Worth. She was a wonderful mother, grandmother and friend to many. Her parents, Paul and Sarah Elder, were prominent in Texas businesses, including the early oil industry in West Texas and a thriving Fort Worth trucking business. Opal was a precocious child and graduated from Polytechnic High School with honors at age 16. She served as a bookkeeper for Montgomery Ward for many years. In 1941, she married the love of her life, Harold Hayden Patterson, who was called to serve in the Army during World War II. As an Army wife, she followed Harold when possible. Their firstborn, the late Robert Paul Patterson, was delivered in Fort Sill, Okla., where Harold, was teaching in the Officers Candidate School. He later served in the European theater helping to defeat Hitler. Opal worked while caring for little Bobby. Their second son, Dr. William "Mike" Patterson, was born in Fort Worth after the war in 1948. As a young lady, Opal received Christ as her personal Savior at Allen Avenue Baptist Church. She was a longtime faithful member of Rolling Hills Baptist Church, First Baptist Church and later Worth Baptist Church of Fort Worth. Over the years she sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, was a class secretary and loved her church. She was honored as Mother of the Year by the congregation of Worth Baptist Church in 2004. Opal was preceded in death by her loving husband, Harold, in 1988; her son, Bob, in 2005; and all eight of her beloved siblings. Survivors: Son, Mike and wife, Becky; daughter-in-law, Evelyn; grandchildren, Russell Patterson, Damara Poledna, the Rev. Nathan Patterson, Andrea Sangjun, Sarah Patterson, Dr. Bill Patterson, Robert D. Patterson, Rebecca Joy Gibson, Jennifer Patterson and Allison Anderson; 20 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.