Ophelia Wagnon Williams

Ophelia Wagnon Williams, age 88, of Warren, Ark., joined family and friends into the presence of the Lord on Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, at Chapel Hills Nursing Home, Warren. Ruth Ophelia Wagnon was born Aug. 26, 1924, in the Blue Springs Community of Bradley County, Ark., to John Robert and Mildred Chambers Wagnon. She graduated from Banks High School at the young age of 16 and married the love of her life, Burgess Williams, on June 1, 1941. Ophelia and her husband established and operated Burgess Sales and Service, a family owned business still operating in Warren. She worked at the business daily from 1950 until her retirement in 2007, and by example taught her children and grandchildren the work ethics and dedication necessary to succeed in the work force and in life. For 56 years, she and Burgess operated a mail contracting business in Southeast Arkansas from the U.S. Postal Service. They were awarded the Eagle Spirit Award from the U.S. Postal Service in recognition of the many years of exemplary service. Ophelia was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church in Warren where she was active in the choir and a Sunday school teacher. For over 50 years she sang in the Warren Quartet with her husband, Burgess, brother-in-law, Bruff Hudson, and friend, Alvin Doggett. The quartet had a daily radio show in the 1950s that aired at noon on KWRF-AM in Warren. Ophelia was a caring, compassionate and wise woman with a great sense of humor and beautiful smile. She raised her family in a home full of love, faith, good values and lots of fun and laughter. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Ophelia is preceded in death by a son, Robert Williams; daughter, Patsy Ruth Williams Trammel; and grandson, Will Alpe. She is also preceded in death by her parents; three brothers, Edward, Travis and Delbert Wagnon; a sister, Marjorie Wagnon Cathey Miller. Ophelia is survived by her husband of 71 years, Burgess Williams; a daughter, Gloria Williams Alpe and husband, Dick, of Bentonville; grandchildren, Mike Williams and wife, Sandra, of Warren, Ladonna Williams Hammons and husband, Joe, of Warren, Robin Alpe Wright and husband, Dan, of Bentonville, and Kristel Williams Ashcraft and husband, Craig, of Rye. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Chris, Christina, Jaclyn, Austin, Drew, Emily and Katie; and two great-great-grandchildren, Cole and Jaxson; and many precious cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family members, including the Nathan Moore family and the community of Cornerville where she and Burgess lived for 40 years; and a daughter-in-law, Pat Williams, Warren. Funeral services 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, at Frazer's Chapel. Burial in Oakland Cemetery by Frazer's Funeral Home. Visitation 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Jan 23, at Frazer's. Memorals may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 605 Sturgis Street, Warren, AR 71671; Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children's Way, Little Rock, AR 72202-3591; Life Touch Hospice, Eldorado, AR. Online guest book www.frazerfuneralhome.com.