Opaline Ball Hensley, age 94, passed away on Wednesday, December 7, 2022. She was born in Port Lavaca, TX, on August 31, 1928, to Jimmie Wesley Ball and Lyda Bell Deavers. Opaline was a graduate of Patti Welder High School in 1945.
She was employed by Bell Telephone and Woolworth’s in Victoria. She met her husband Emmery “Payne” Hensley while he was stationed at Foster Field in the Army Air Corps. They married on April 26, 1945, and she remained in Victoria until his return from overseas. After his discharge, they moved to the Texas panhandle, living in Borger, Bunavista, and Fritch for a total of 33 years. They were offered the opportunity to go to work in Maracaibo, Venezuela for 4.5 years and then retired in Victoria in 1983.
Opaline was a homemaker and volunteer for her children’s school and scouting activities. She was an excellent seamstress and enjoyed ceramics and painting. She was a member of the Victoria Art League and a member of the Central Church of Christ.
Opaline was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, her sister Barbara Jean Upton, and brother Baby Ball.
She is survived by daughter, Cheryle (Randy) Simmans of Victoria; son, Emmery “Bud” (Penny) Hensley Jr. of Sweeny, TX; son, Michael “Mike” of Whitney, TX; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild.
Visitation is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Colonial Funeral Home on Tuesday, December 13, 2022. The funeral service will follow at 10:00 a.m. with Cole Mealer and Dan Marshall officiating. Burial will follow at Memory Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of South Texas, 605 E. Locust, Victoria, TX, 77901; the Victoria Art League, 905 S. Bridge Street, Victoria, TX, 77901; or a charity of the donor’s choosing.
Words of comfort, fond memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com.
