Sis. Opal Wilson's Obituary

Sis. Opal Wilson's Obituary

(Faith & Victory : Nov. 1964)


Opal Beatrice (Alexander) Wilson was born November 13, 1905 at Violet, Oklahoma and departed this life September 24, 1964 from the mission field in Eastern Nigeria, Africa at the age of 58 years, 10 months and 11 days.

On March 31, 1929 she was united in marriage with Ostis B. Wilson at Shawnee, Oklahoma. To this union three children were born, one daughter and two sons.

In March of 1931 she and her husband moved to Clovis, New Mexico where they pastored the congregation of the Church of God until January 1934. Then they moved to Anthony, Kansas where they had the oversight of the church until June of 1943. In June of 1943 she and her husband moved to California where she became the pastor of the Church of God congregation which was then holding its services on Perlita Ave. in Los Angeles. This congregation later moved its place of worship to Osborne Place in Pacoima and she continued the pastorship of this congregation until the time of her death.

Opal was constantly reaching out for greater and higher things in the spiritual realm and was possessed of a missionary zeal and vision which was constantly looking out upon far horizons. She often lamented over the lack of the missionary zeal and spirit on the part of so many of the church. She carried a great and constant burden for the progress and expansion of the church and the work of God and for the spiritual stability of the saints. These themes were predominant in many of her sermons and much of her preaching.

She had a keen interest in the poor and underprivileged peoples of the earth and was much of the time "chewing at the bits," to use a homely expression, to be able to go and impart to them the benefits of the gospel of Christ. She had an avid interest in mission work wherever it was being carried on and was possessed of a restless spirit to go and participate in that kind of work herself.

God finally granted her this privilege in June of this year to go and to be active in missionary work on the mission field in Eastern Nigeria, Africa and she grasped the opportunity with joy and anticipation. She, with her husband, arrived at their station on this mission field on the 13th day of August of this year. She entered into her work there with zest and zeal and with keen interest and anticipation. She loved her work and was happy and contented in this place. She very quickly came to love dearly the people with whom she worked and they loved her.

But this was not to continue long. God had other things in mind for her. At the end of about five weeks she was stricken with a severe illness and about nine days later God called her unto Himself to reap the reward of all her labors in this life. She went with courage and confidence, testifying that she was ready to go and was willing to go if that was what God wanted. Her husband asked her different times during her illness if she was glad she had come, and she affirmed to the very end that she surely was.

She dearly loved her children and was much concerned continually about their way of life and that they give their hearts and lives to God and love and serve Him. Often in her praying she was heard to say, "Oh God, one more time I bring my children and lay them on the altar before you that you may save their souls at any cost." Those prayers are silenced now, but may God in His own way and time pour them all out where they belong and bring them to pass.

She is survived by her husband, Ostis B. Wilson, 12312 Osborne Place, Pacoima, Calif.; one daughter, Mrs. Wilda Adams, Panorama City, Calif.; two sons, George W. Wilson of the U. S. Air Force and Weldon Wilson, Los Angeles, Calif.; three sisters, Mrs. Myrtle Sutton, Fresno, Calif., Mrs. Lois Miller, Lake Charles, La., and Mrs. Ruth Mason, Pomona, Calif.; four brothers, James J. Alexander, Yorba Linda, Calif., R. F. Alexander, Rich­mond, Calif., Guy Alexander, Pencil Bluff, Arkansas, and Ruel L. Alexander of Wynnewood, Okla.; four grandchil­dren, a number of nephews and nieces, other relatives, and many saints.

Funeral services were conducted by Bro. Ira Stover and Sister La Vern Manuel on Oct. 5 in the chapel of the Forest Lawn of the Hills (Hollywood Hills) and her earthly house was laid to rest nearby to await the general resurrection at the last day.

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