Opal Wilson Willoughby

Mrs. Willoughby was born in Grayson County, Kentucky July 9, 1925. She was the daughter of the late Arthur Wilson and Amy Bratcher Wilson. She was also preceded in death by 7 siblings and her husband Dr. Ernest L. Willoughby, Jr to whom she was married for 57 years. Mrs. Willoughby grew up in Caneyville, Kentucky. She graduated from Caneyville High School then attended Western Kentucky University where she received her Bachelor of Arts and her Master’s degree in British Literature and Latin. She taught school in the Hendry County School system of Labelle, Florida. She attended Radio Springs Baptist Church in Rome, and was a member of New Salem Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky. She was a member of the Rome Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Willoughby was always concerned with helping others, and she never liked drawing attention to herself. She enjoyed doing puzzles. She was strong, determined, independent, and a very compassionate woman. She loved her family dearly and loved her special pet companions, Raney and Cindy. Her granddaughter, Amy, was especially dear to her heart, and she was so proud of being able to attend Amy’s wedding before her health began to deteriorate.

Survivors include one son, Mr. Eric Willoughby and his wife Cheryl of Silver Creek; one daughter, Greta Bunch and her husband Jeff of Rome; one sister Sue Flener of Frankfurt, Kentucky, and one granddaughter, Mrs. Amy Hand and her husband Ian of Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California.

The family received friends at Daniel’s Funeral Home Thursday evening August 4, 2016 from 5 pm until 7 pm. Services were held Friday August 5, 2016 in the Thomas B. Griffin Chapel of Daniel’s Funeral Home at 1:00 pm with the Rev. Tom Bowen officiating. Interment followed at East View Cemetery.

Those serving as pallbearers were J.B. Quinn, Jeff Bunch, Bob Ingram, Jimmy Farrer, Calvin Griffin and Randy Fisher.

In lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests memorial contributions to be made to; The Animal Rescue Foundation of Rome/Floyd County, P.O. Box 682 Rome, GA. 30162.

Please visit our website at www.daniels-funeralhome.com to share memories and post tributes.