Opal Zamzow

Celebrating the Life of Opal Annette Zamzow

Opal Annette Temple Zamzow, 74, of Three Rivers, passed to eternal life on Monday, July 24, 2017.

Opal was born in Berkeley, California on February 27, 1943, to Ralph L. and Maudie (Ashley) Temple. At the time of her birth, her parents were living in the San Francisco area where her father was employed as a laborer for the Richmond Shipyard #3 - a major builder of ships in the San Francisco Bay area during the WWII era.

In the mid-1940s, Opal’s family moved back to Texas, where her father continued his career for many years in the oil field industry. Throughout her early years, Opal and her family lived in many towns throughout South Texas as her father moved with his crew from one location to another. During some years, Opal may have changed schools more than once during a school year. Some of the more memorable places Opal recalled living included North Beach in Corpus Christi, Runge, Bishop and the Pharr-San Juan Alamo area in the Texas Valley region.

In 1956, Opal’s family moved to Three Rivers while Opal was in the eighth grade. During her high school years, she was a member of the FHA, pep squad and she was a letterman in basketball and track. Opal graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1961.

On June 3, 1961, Opal and Allen Franklin Zamzow were married in St. Michael’s Lutheran Church at Ray Point, Texas. From 1962 through 1982, they made their home in the Ray Point community on his uncle’s farm where they farmed and ranched and reared their five sons.

In addition to providing for the needs of her family, Opal was also very involved in the daily chores on the farm. She tended to feeding the cattle, hogs and chickens and she nursed many calves, pigs, baby chicks to a level of health where they could fend for themselves among the others. She also worked in the fields “as one of the boys” hauling hay, cutting corn stalks, pulling ear corn and driving the tractor when the need arose.

Opal and her family were active members of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Three Rivers. Opal taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and served as a leader for the church youth group for several years. She volunteered at the church on a weekly basis, helping in the preparation of church service bulletins, monthly newsletters and in the preparation of the sanctuary for church service on Sunday.

Opal was an avid supporter of her sons and their activities in school sports, academics, UIL, 4-H and FFA. One of her most prestigious honors was being recognized by the Three Rivers FFA Chapter in 1991 with the Honorary Chapter Farmer Degree award.

From the early 1980s through the mid-1990s, Opal served as substitute teacher for the Three Rivers Independent School District. She substitute taught at the elementary, middle school and high school levels in a variety of subject areas - her most favorite subjects being Agriculture and English. Opal is survived by Allen, her husband of 56 years; her five sons and their spouses, Larry (Leatha), Keith (Janet), Travis (Brian), Michael (Mary Kay) and Brian (Vickie); and thirteen grandchildren, Shelby, Kaitlyn, Michael A., Lindsey, Landry, Benjamin, Austin, Ashley, Zachary, Kara, Matthew, Kendree and Allison. Opal is also survived by her brother, Harold (Audrey) Temple; sister-in-law, Pat Temple; and brothers and sisters-in-law, Lawrence Zamzow, Janet (Carroll) Retzloff, Geraldine (Jerry) Retzloff, David “Butch” Zamzow, Calvin (Marsha) Zamzow, Norman Zamzow and Karen (Paul) Brysch; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Opal was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Herman Temple; parents-in-law, Otto and Alma Zamzow; and sisters-in-law, Lynn Zamzow and Mary Zamzow.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 26, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Three Rivers with a prayer service to be held there that evening at 7:00 p.m. A celebration of Opal’s life will be held on Thursday, July 27, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Three Rivers with Reverend Norm Sulaica officiating. Burial will follow in the Ray Point Lutheran Cemetery with Lawrence Zamzow, Butch Zamzow, Calvin Zamzow, Norman Zamzow, Terry Retzloff, Jason Retzloff, Jeffrey Zamzow and Mark Zamzow serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Opal’s grandchildren.

Arrangements are under the direction of Galloway Funeral Home in Three Rivers.

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