Obituary for Ophelia Franks
Ophelia Talburt Franks, 99, a long-time resident of Coalinga, passed away Thursday morning, June 20, 2019, in Bakersfield.
Ophelia was born on April 13, 1920 on her parents' farm in Cumi, Arkansas. She was the youngest of three daughters of Charley and Ollie (Walker) Talburt. She received her early education in a one room school house at Cumi and attended high school in Viola, Arkansas.
In July of 1937 Ophelia met Eugene Franks of Henderson, Arkansas, at a church revival meeting. They married on September 16, 1939 and remained married for 61 years until Eugene passed away in November of 2000.
The couple moved to California in 1942 and lived in the Avenal hills until 1944 when Eugene left to serve in the United States Army and Ophelia returned to Arkansas. After the war Ophelia and Eugene returned to California and resided in Bakersfield, Avenal, and Firebaugh before settling in Coalinga in 1954.
Ophelia accepted Jesus Christ as her savior as a young child and spent her life in service to the Lord as a devoted Southern Baptist. Ophelia was a 65 year member of Chapel Grace Coalinga (formerly 1st Baptist Church of Coalinga) and dearly loved her brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ophelia was a talented artist. She was able to sketch and paint as a young person, but the art classes she took at Coalinga College in the 1950's, under the instruction of Mrs. Birdwell, enabled her to grow into an accomplished artist. Ophelia painted large murals of the Jordan River for many church baptisteries throughout California in the 1950's and 1960's. She painted numerous landscapes for family and friends of outdoor scenes from around her Arkansas farm and areas near Coalinga.
Ophelia was a skilled seamstress and made her children's clothing and beautiful quilts. She enjoyed gardening and was especially good at growing fruit which she canned and made into jelly. Ophelia loved Christian music, as she grew up in a large family in which playing hymns was the focal point of family gatherings. Ophelia made sure her children had an appreciation for music and enabled them to have voice and instrumental music lessons.
Ophelia loved her family deeply, and that love was reciprocated by her children, grandchildren, and their spouses. She was dearly loved, admired and cherished.
Ophelia was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Franks; father, Charley Talburt; mother Ollie Walker Talburt; sister Thelma Talburt Davis; and sister Flora Talburt Southard.
She is survived by her three daughters and one son and their spouses. Beverly Franks Gale (Lewis III); Kathleen Franks Scrivner (Bill); Eugene Franks; and Cynthia Franks Zimmer (Richard).
Ophelia is survived by 10 grandchildren and their spouses. Lewis Gale IV (Candice); Jennifer Gale Hoffman; Kimberlee Gale Catsis; Stephany Scrivner Mankameyer (Van); Zachary Scrivner (Christina); Benjamin Franks; Steven Franks; Holly Franks Russell (Brody); Elizabeth Zimmer (fiancée Kyle), and William Zimmer.
Ophelia left 10 beautiful great-grandchildren. Madeline Gale, Lewis Gale V, Megan Hoffman, Mary Katherine Mankameyer, Raiden Catsis, Ava Catsis, Zachary Scrivner, Robert Scrivner, Jane Scrivner, and Jacqueline Scrivner.
Ophelia's memorial service will be held Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 1:00 p.m., Chapel Grace, 120 E. Hawthorne, Coalinga. Interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Coalinga. Phipps-Dale Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Ophelia was born on April 13, 1920 on her parents' farm in Cumi, Arkansas. She was the youngest of three daughters of Charley and Ollie (Walker) Talburt. She received her early education in a one room school house at Cumi and attended high school in Viola, Arkansas.
In July of 1937 Ophelia met Eugene Franks of Henderson, Arkansas, at a church revival meeting. They married on September 16, 1939 and remained married for 61 years until Eugene passed away in November of 2000.
The couple moved to California in 1942 and lived in the Avenal hills until 1944 when Eugene left to serve in the United States Army and Ophelia returned to Arkansas. After the war Ophelia and Eugene returned to California and resided in Bakersfield, Avenal, and Firebaugh before settling in Coalinga in 1954.
Ophelia accepted Jesus Christ as her savior as a young child and spent her life in service to the Lord as a devoted Southern Baptist. Ophelia was a 65 year member of Chapel Grace Coalinga (formerly 1st Baptist Church of Coalinga) and dearly loved her brothers and sisters in Christ.
Ophelia was a talented artist. She was able to sketch and paint as a young person, but the art classes she took at Coalinga College in the 1950's, under the instruction of Mrs. Birdwell, enabled her to grow into an accomplished artist. Ophelia painted large murals of the Jordan River for many church baptisteries throughout California in the 1950's and 1960's. She painted numerous landscapes for family and friends of outdoor scenes from around her Arkansas farm and areas near Coalinga.
Ophelia was a skilled seamstress and made her children's clothing and beautiful quilts. She enjoyed gardening and was especially good at growing fruit which she canned and made into jelly. Ophelia loved Christian music, as she grew up in a large family in which playing hymns was the focal point of family gatherings. Ophelia made sure her children had an appreciation for music and enabled them to have voice and instrumental music lessons.
Ophelia loved her family deeply, and that love was reciprocated by her children, grandchildren, and their spouses. She was dearly loved, admired and cherished.
Ophelia was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Franks; father, Charley Talburt; mother Ollie Walker Talburt; sister Thelma Talburt Davis; and sister Flora Talburt Southard.
She is survived by her three daughters and one son and their spouses. Beverly Franks Gale (Lewis III); Kathleen Franks Scrivner (Bill); Eugene Franks; and Cynthia Franks Zimmer (Richard).
Ophelia is survived by 10 grandchildren and their spouses. Lewis Gale IV (Candice); Jennifer Gale Hoffman; Kimberlee Gale Catsis; Stephany Scrivner Mankameyer (Van); Zachary Scrivner (Christina); Benjamin Franks; Steven Franks; Holly Franks Russell (Brody); Elizabeth Zimmer (fiancée Kyle), and William Zimmer.
Ophelia left 10 beautiful great-grandchildren. Madeline Gale, Lewis Gale V, Megan Hoffman, Mary Katherine Mankameyer, Raiden Catsis, Ava Catsis, Zachary Scrivner, Robert Scrivner, Jane Scrivner, and Jacqueline Scrivner.
Ophelia's memorial service will be held Saturday, June 29, 2019 at 1:00 p.m., Chapel Grace, 120 E. Hawthorne, Coalinga. Interment will follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Coalinga. Phipps-Dale Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.