Ferguson, Opal (nee Ward) wife of the late Clarence Ferguson, beloved mother of Duane Ferguson, Georgetta Stenger, Betty J. Closser, and the late Kathleen Ferguson, dear grandmother of Steve (Julie), Kelli, Andrea (Charles), Rhonda (Derek), JoAnne, Brian (Lisa), Stephanie (Howard), and Darren (Brie), great-grandmother of Matthew (Lauren), Evie, Ryan, Steven, Nicholas, Ashley, Brittany, Miranda, Macie, Aaron, Hannah, Sarah, and Collins. Nov. 16, 2017. Age 103 years. Service at T P WHITE & SONS Funeral Home 2050 Beechmont Ave. Mt. Washington on Mon. Nov. 20, at 1:30 PM. Friends may visit on Mon. from 12:30-1:30 PM. Memorials to Crossroads Hospice, 4380 Glendale-Milford Rd., Cincinnati, 45242.

Radiating a perfect blend of goodness and practicality her entire life, Opal Ferguson (nee Ward) died November 16, 2017 at age 103 years. Born March 29, 1914 in Jackson County, Kentucky the first child of John D. and Martha Ward (nee Bond), Opal was the apple of their eyes. Eventually she became the loving, older sibling to Ora and finally John Wilburn. A testament to her work ethic, Opal rode a horse five miles to school daily, and graduated with her classmates from Tyner High School at a time when matriculation often deferred to farm work. She met her husband, Clarence, and they married on January 23, 1935 in Manchester, Kentucky, and had four children, Duane, Kathleen (who died before birth), Georgetta and Betty Jo. As did many southeastern Kentuckians at that time, the Ferguson family moved north to the Cincinnati area, first locating in Lockland, and then in Mt. Adams. Opal began her job at Kroger on May 4, 1948 in the tea and candy manufacturing division, which was located near her husband's factory job. In 1959 Clarence and Opal bought their first home at 253 Dorchester Avenue near downtown Cincinnati, and three years later moved to Sutton Avenue in Mt. Washington, where they lived for 24 years before moving to Wilma Court in Withamsville. Following 28 years of employment at Kroger, Opal retired on April 3, 1976, and was recognized by the company for never taking a sick day in all that time. To gain in her independence in retirement, at age 62, Opal decided to get her driver's license, scoring 100 percent on the driver's exam. Opal and Clarence's door was always open, and following his death in 1992 after 57 years of marriage, she was still best known for her hospitality. To friends and family, that included a consistent offering of iron skillet cornbread, half-runner green beans and upside-down pineapple cake. Opal loved to crochet and embroider, but her favorite activity was to soak up visits from her children, grandchildren and great-children. She adored babies, and especially her "great-grandbabies". In fact, a busy housekeeper, her desire to keep a tidy home couldn't eclipse keeping a precious grandchild's handprint on her sliding glass door. Opal was the ultimate supportive wife to her husband Clarence and a tireless, loving, humble grande dame to her three children, eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. To her children, she was absolutely everything anyone could ever ask for in a mother. To her grandchildren, she was fiercely independent, hilarious, and, in the 1970's, a surprise disguised Santa with sunglasses and a pillow case full of presents. Opal's life spanned 18 U.S. presidents and all major conflicts following the Civil War. For us who knew her, she was as profound an influence as world events or historic milestones. To the world she left behind, we'll miss her countless gifts of lessons learned, laughs shared and a life well lived.