Opal Billings

Ms Opal Billings passed from this life on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at her home in Sapulpa, OK.
Opal was born on September 2, 1927 in Hugo, Oklahoma to John and Latishia Ford. She was the youngest of 5 children as well as the only girl. She married Charles Billings, her childhood sweetheart, on May 25, 1946 and together they went on to school to become teachers, graduating from East Central College in Ada, OK in 1954.
Opal always wanted to be a teacher. She had a speech problem and told her brothers she wanted to be a “hool heacher” and wear high heel “hippers”! When she was very young, she would gather the neighborhood kids, make them sit down, and proceed to hone her skills as a Master Educator.
Opal had four loves in life: her Lord, her husband of over fifty years, kids and teaching. She taught school in Creek County, along with her husband, Charles for thirty-four years retiring in May 1983, and was a member of OREA. She was also a member of the Church of the Nazarene of Sapulpa and cherished her church family.
Opal was preceded in death by her parents John and Latishia Ford, her brothers Troy Ford, Horace Ford, John Ford Jr. and Claude Ford, and her husband Charles Billings.
She is survived by an ‘adopted daughter’ Shelly James, nephews Dan Ford, David
Teegarden and wife Marilyn, and niece, Joann Moore. She is also survived by
very special and close friends Jeletta Brown, Ginger Moore, Mary West, Naoma Hemphill, lifelong friends Oscar and Velvree Partin, Betty Lindsy, Thelma Milican and numerous other friends and former students.
Visitation will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 pm Tuesday, March 5 at Smith Funeral Home, 1208 S Main St, Sapulpa, OK. Funeral services will be the following afternoon at 2:00 at the Church of the Nazarene of Sapulpa, 302 S Elm, Sapulpa, OK with Pastor Steve Davis officiating. Opal’s final resting place will be next to her husband Charles in Green Hill Cemetery’s, Honor Garden.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Smith Funeral Home 1208 South Main in Sapulpa.