William Joseph Opferman

Bill was born on September 10, 1929 in Pittsburgh, PA to Joseph Sylvester Opferman and Kathleen McGraw Opferman, the eldest of eight children. When Bill was a tot, the family moved to New York City and spent summers living at the beach on Staten Island. As a child Bill was a model with the John Robert Powers Agency of Manhattan. He was also a Boy Scout and as a teen played the banjo with buddies who loved old time country and western music.

On graduating from high school, Bill enlisted in the Army. His twenty-one-year stint included serving in the Korean War and Vietnam and travelling all over Europe and Asia as well as the US. Initially Bill trained as a radio operator and then a machine gunner and tank driver. While most of his military career was spent in law enforcement as a Military Policeman and later Criminal Investigator, Bill’s favorite assignment was being a guard for General Walton H. Walker, Eighth Army Commander in Japan and Korea. Bill was also fluent in German and Russian and served in intelligence operations during the Cold War.

On his second tour of duty in Korea, Bill met his wife Helen (Lee Kyung Sook), who had escaped the Chinese Communist invasion of Manchuria. Initially hesitant, Helen eventually gave in to the handsome young policeman and they went to a New Year’s Eve party which was the beginning of their romance and a marriage that lasted 55 years until Helen’s death in 2010. The couple had five children and lived in many states and in Germany.

When Bill retired from the Army as a Chief Warrant Officer, he continued his career in law enforcement by becoming a Special Agent for the California Department of Justice investigating crimes from insurance fraud to serial murders. Early in his second career, Bill decided to finish his college education graduating from UCLA. He taught a course in Police Science at the community college level in the evenings.

After twenty years of state service, it was time for Bill to pursue some personal dreams. He and Helen owned a cattle ranch in Northern California, built their dream home in Sacramento, and bought a mountain cabin in South Lake Tahoe which became the place of many happy occasions for the couple, their children, grandchildren, other family and friends.

When Helen died, Bill moved to London, KY near his eldest son, also named Bill. After a couple years, Bill decided to move to the Armed Forces Retirement Home (“The Old Soldiers Home,” established in 1851) in Washington, DC. Bill was very active in social events, promoting the Home, and running the Sunday Classic Movie program, sharing his extensive collection of movies from the 1930’s to 1960’s.

Bill loved good food, good drinks, and good company. Always dapper, he was ready for a good time whenever one should present itself. He regaled anyone and everyone with stories of his life. Bill loved poetry, music, children, nature and knowledge. When not socializing, Bill spent hours in the library and on the internet researching topics of interest and sharing what he knew.

The COVID lockdown took a toll on Bill’s well-being. Early this year Bill came to live with his daughter Mary and her husband Jim in North Carolina where he enjoyed outings, watching the backyard chickens and sneaking treats to a neurotic Sheltie he called “Doggy.” Bill fought valiantly against a series of health problems the last few months of his life. His actual passing was peaceful and gentle.

Predeceased by his parents, sisters Ann Regina Opferman and Sister Mary Edith Opferman IHM, Bill is survived by his children Mary Layne (Jim), Bill Opferman, Margaret O’Donnell, Steve Opferman and John Opferman (Kim), nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, as well as brother Joseph Opferman (Gwen), sisters Suzanne Nicholson, Babette Opferman IHM, Helen Von Salzen (Eric), and Dorothy Purcell.

Inurnment to be at Arlington National Cemetery, date pending.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Old Soldiers Fund (tosf.org) or Hospice of Union County (https://fundraise.atriumhealthfoundation.org/give/256366/#!/donation/checkout).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.McEwenPinevilleChapel.com for the Opferman family.