JEAN L. OPEL, 83, of Fort Myers, FL, formally of Cocoa Beach, died early Wednesday, November 9th, 2016 at The Lodge of Cypress Cove in Fort Myers.
Born December 21, 1932 in DuBois, PA to Irene (Rakestraw) and Lester E. Shugarts. She married LT. Colonel Donald M. Opel in 1971 who predeceased her in 2010. The couple were married for 39 years.
She graduated from DuBois High School in 1950 and then enlisted in the U.S. Army attending basic training from February – April 1951. Her military career consisted of posts including NYC and Naples, Italy. After her military service, she continued her career in Civil Service with NATO in Paris, France and Brussels, Belgium. Her Civil Service career also took her to posts around the globe from Germany to Vietnam. Finally, she and her husband, Donald, settled in Cocoa Beach, FL where she worked at Cape Canaveral. After her husband died, she relocated to Fort Myers in 2014.
She is survived by her sister, M. Sue Ullery (Thomas) of Fort Myers, FL; her stepchildren, Kathryn (Mark) Dittman, of Harlingen, Texas; Carlton (Anna) Opel, Panama; Christopher (Rita) Opel, Texas and Grandson, Matthew Dittman. She will be missed by all including her loving nieces, nephews and friends.
In addition to her husband, she is preceded in death by her parents, her brother, William Rakestraw Shugarts, and her granddaughter, Margaret Dittman.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Cypress Cove. Memorial Services will be held at St. Luke’s United Church of Christ in Luthersburg, PA. Burial will be at the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Luke’s United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 112, Luthersburg, PA 15848.
Arrangements under the direction of HODGES-KISER FUNERAL HOME, Fort Myers, FL.
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