Thelma Opal "Ninnie" Bostick

KILGORE — Services for Thelma Opal Bostick "Ninnie," 106, of Kilgore, will be 10 a.m. today, March 30, 2012, at Rader Funeral Home of Kilgore, with the Rev. W. Mark Bailey and the Rev. Scott Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Longview, Texas. Mrs. Bostick passed away March 27, 2012, at the Gregg Senior Care Center.
Thelma Opal Bostick "Ninnie" was born January 12, 1906, to Ernest and Elva Dee Akers Matlock, in Hale County, Texas. She was the oldest of eight children. Opal accepted Christ as her Savior as a teen when a traveling preacher and girls group from Wayland College came to her town, and at this time, she made the decision to attend Wayland College in Plainview, Texas, where she enjoyed playing basketball.
She married L.M. Bostick in May 1928 and moved to Mineola, Texas, where L.M. worked for the T&P Railroad and Opal was a homemaker.
At the age of 52, Opal made the decision to return to school and attended Mother Frances School Of Nursing in Tyler, Texas, where she graduated as an LVN in January 1960. She was employed at the Mineola General Hospital. They moved to Liberty City in 1969, and Opal worked at Roy H. Laird Memorial Hospital, where she retired, and Gregg Home for the Aged. After retirement, she worked as a private duty nurse for patients in their home.
She loved her family very much and spent her last years at the Gregg Home For The Aged, where she once worked. She was a member of Faith Baptist Church in Kilgore, Texas.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Lecil Bostick; a brother, Frank Matlock; sisters, Elva Lou Lewellen, Virgie Ratliff, Ernestine Skipworth and Dottie Osborn; her sons-in-law, Billy H. Johns and Paul Robertson; grandson, Billy L. Johns; and grandson-in-law, Albert Bayless Jr.
She is survived by her daughter, Betsy Robertson of Kilgore, Texas; two granddaughters, Debbie and Steve Boles of Kilgore, Texas, and Darla and Mark Bailey of Harrison, Arkansas; granddaughter-in-law, Sheri Johns of Longview, Texas; seven great-grandchildren, Trey Bayless III of Kilgore, Texas, Jaime and Mark Walden of Harrison, Arkansas, Brian Bailey of Fayetteville, Arkansas, Justin Johns of Longview, Texas, Amanda and Matt Green of Harrison, Arkansas, Sarah and Richard Jenkins of Harrison, Arkansas, and Cory Johns of Conway, Arkansas; eight great-grandchildren, Mason Skiles, Jason Bayless, Jacob Bayless, Kaylee Johns, Lorelai Green, Kyran Jenkins, Jocelyn Green and Declan Jenkins. She is also survived by one brother, Thomas Matlock of Munday, Texas; one sister, Elvera White of Friona, Texas; and lots of nieces and nephews.
Opal "Ninnie" believed almost any ailment in life could be prevented or healed by natural living and remedies. She passed this legacy down through years of journaled notebooks entitled, "Hints." You may follow Ninnie's hints at www.hintsfromninnie.wordpress.com.
The family wants to thank Gregg Senior Care Center and Southern Care Hospice for their love and care.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Gregg Senior Care Center, Southern Care Hospice or Faith Baptist Church in Kilgore.
The family received friends from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29, 2012, at Rader Funeral Home.
Please sign the online register at www.raderfuneralhome.com.