Thomas Eugene (Gene) Opel, 83, Searcy, Ark.
Thomas Eugene (Gene) Opel was born June 9, 1939, to Virgil Edward William Opel and Faye Opel in Haysville, Indiana.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil Edward William Opel and Faye Opel; his loving wife-Mary Irene Swan Opel (DOD 12/26/22); brother-Ronnie Opel; brother-Kenny Opel; sister-Connie Opel Convey; stepson-Daniel Eugene Bunn.
He is survived by his son, Dennis Opel; five stepchildren, Jerry Franklin Bunn, Phillip Earl Bunn, Mary Anita Bunn, Frank Alan Bunn, Nancy Irene Bunn Garavelli; 13 step-grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
He lived in Jasper, Indiana and attended Jasper High School until 1955, when his family moved to Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from George Washington High School in 1957.
Gene proudly served in the United States Air National Guard from January 1957 until November 1962. He worked for the United States Postal Service for 33 years. He was acting postmaster in Frankford, Indiana, and manager of several stations in Indianapolis, Indiana. He retired in 1992, and he and his wife, Irene, moved to Searcy, Arkansas.
He worked for the Searcy, Arkansas, school system as a bus driver for 17 years, then retired in 2018.
He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Order of the Eastern Star for 50 years, serving as Worthy Patron in Searcy, Arkansas, three times. He also served as president of Whitewood Shrine Club Searcy, Arkansas, for one year.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church, Searcy, Arkansas. He served as an usher and helped with the Good Samaritan community projects, boxing food for the needy. When he and his wife, Irene, moved to Memphis, Tennessee, in 2019, they attended Trinity United Methodist Church. Gene was always willing to help anyone. He loved going to church, traveling, sharing the cooking chores with his wife, Irene, and fishing.
The celebration of Thomas Eugene Opel’s life will be scheduled when the final arrangements have been completed honoring Gene’s wishes. If anyone would like to honor Gene, please send a donation to Trinity United Methodist Church, 1738 Galloway Avenue, Memphis, TN 38112 (901) 274-6895.
Online guestbook: rollerfuneralhomes.com/searcy
