She was born on June 10, 1915, at Feldon, Ill., to Andrew and Alpha (Russell) Dixon. She moved to Kansas with her parents at the age of 3 and grew up on the farm her grandparents homesteaded north of Oswego in 1867. The grandparents had traveled in a covered wagon from Illinois to Kansas.
Opal attended Oswego High School and graduated from Columbus High School, receiving a normal training certificate. She graduated from Parsons Junior College and Pittsburg State University with a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s in reading with a reading specialist certification.
She taught at schools in Labette and Cherokee County including Oswego Elementary and High School, Cherokee High School and various Parsons elementary schools. She retired in 1980. Following retirement, she worked at Lambert-Duffy-Melone. She also volunteered at Red Cross bloodmobiles and for the Labette Health Auxiliary.
On Feb. 5, 1938, she married H. Ernest Rigg at Lebanon, Mo. He preceded her in death on July 24, 1983.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and was an ordained deacon. She served on numerous committees throughout the years. She also was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the National Education Association, the Kansas Education Association, the Alpha Reading Club and the Round Table Club. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, quilting, knitting, reading and cooking. Several babies have been recipients of her hand-knitted sweaters and caps. Numerous caps were also knitted for newborn babies at the hospital. Opal was an avid collector of dolls and enjoyed designing and creating clothing for them.
Survivors include her beloved daughter, Barbara Ward of Parsons; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers and two sisters. She was the last member of one of the pioneer families in the Sherman City vicinity.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church at Parsons. Burial will be in Oswego Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the church.
Memorials are suggested to the Presbyterian Church and may be left at or mailed to Carson-Wall Funeral Home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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