Opal Inez Eslinger

Opal Inez Eslinger, 89, of Fort Smith passed away of natural causes on Sunday, October 24, 2010, at Chapel Ridge Health & Rehab. She was born January 17, 1921, to the late Alford A. Eslinger and Ida May (Elsey) Eslinger. Ms. Eslinger was the office manager of Smith Chevrolet-Cadillac for about 42 years, having retired in 1986. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Fort Smith for many years and was a member of Unity Missionary Baptist Church in Fort Smith at the time of her demise.

She is survived by her sister, Annie McMahan of Lavaca; nieces Wanda L. Anderson of Fort Smith, Robbie Anderson Brock and Joyce Branham of Van Buren, and Doris Sue Matlock of Tyler, Texas; nephews Alford Eugene Eslinger of Rotonda West, Florida, Harold Ray Eslinger of Fort Smith, Richard McMahan of Barling, Jerry Young of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and John Young of Fort Smith; and other nieces and nephews who live out of state, being Charles Chaffin, Jr., Cela Beth Armstrong, John Chaffin of California, and Bill Chaffin, Alice May Norrid and David Eslinger of Texas. She is also survived by many great and great-great nieces and nephews.

Ms. Eslinger was preceded in death by her parents, Alford A. Eslinger and Ida May Eslinger; her sisters Hattie Wingfield, Mary Chaffin, Hazel Eslinger, Artie L. Young, Viola Eslinger, and Clara Eslinger; and her brothers Virgil “Bud” Eslinger and Alfred Eslinger.

Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 28, 2010, at the Edwards Chapel, Fort Smith, with interment at Forest Park Cemetery in Fort Smith under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home of Fort Smith.

Pallbearers will be Harold Ray Eslinger, Rich McMahan, Sean H. Harris, and John Pendleton.

The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 27, at Edwards Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Unity Missionary Baptist Church, 1506 Phoenix Avenue, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72901.