Opal F. Gulliford

Opal Faye Gulliford, the daughter of Alfred and Blanche Waggoner Wittrock, was born July 2, 1922 in Slayton, Minnesota. Her family moved to Sutherland, when she was a child and she received her early education in a country school in Waterman Township, near Sutherland. She continued her education at Sutherland High School, where she graduated. Doris Steele's sister was Opal's country school teacher and Doris remembers hearing that Opal "always did perfect work." Opal always talked about riding her pony to country school "uphill both ways." Occasionally she had to spend the night with her good friend, Leona Collier, who lived on top of the hill. Following high school, she continued her education at Iowa Teacher's College in Cedar Falls (now UNI), where she received her teaching degree. After her schooling, she taught in country schools in northwest Iowa. Opal was married on November 14, 1942 in Dakota City, Nebraska in a secret ceremony, so she could continue to teach in the country school, since they did not allow married women to teach at that time. Throughout her life, Opal took care of her family. She was a member of the Sutherland Church of Christ. She was also active in 4-H and Farm Bureau. Opal passed away at the Floyd County Memorial Hospital in Charles City, Iowa on Friday, August 17, 2007 at the age of 85. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Gulliford, and a brother, Chester Wittrock. She is survived by her two daughters: Sondra Elaine and her husband, Douglas Conard of Spencer and Janice Faye and her husband, Bill Faust of Charles City, Iowa. Her grandchildren include: Dean Faust and his wife, Hanne, and their daughter, Emily, of Rapid City, SD; Jim Conard of Algona, IA; Melissa Miller and her husband, Jay, and soon-to-arrive-son of Seattle, WA; and Jana Litz and her husband, Brent, and son, Joseph and daughter, Mamie, of Dunlap, IA. A sister, Constance Cooper of Long Beach, CA; Opal's special friends, Ralph Jalas and Doris Steele and their families and other acquaintances will miss her love and friendship.

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