Ophelia Harp

Ophelia Laura Phoebe Harp of Uvalde passed away on January 12, 2009 in Uvalde Memorial Hospital at the age of 99. She was born on December 11, 1909 in Knippa, TX to O.B. and Lydia Selma Knippa Kessler. She was the granddaughter of early pioneers, Georg and Rosina Knippa and A.J. and Mary Knippa Kessler, early settlers of the town of Knippa. She married Vernon Odell Harp in Uvalde in 1933 and gave birth to their daughter, Sylvia, in Knippa two years later. Ophelia completed her freshman year of college at Sul Ross in Alpine and later received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Southwest Texas State Teachers College in San Marcos where she was an honors student. She taught school in Barksdale, Knippa, Pearsall, Devine, and Lytle. It was in Lytle where many treasured and lifelong friendships were made. After leaving Lytle in 1955, Ophelia was a librarian for the Harlandale School District in San Antonio until her retirement in 1973. Ophelia and Vernon then spent their retirement traveling the country; however, Ophelias fondest memories with her husband included the ten summers they spent in Yellowstone National Park where they worked in the General Store and lived in their fifth-wheel camper. Ophelias retirement years also included active memberships in the AARP, NRTA, Texas Retired Teachers Association, and the Uvalde Retired Teachers Association where she served as President from 1976-1978. She was also a member of the Caddell-Smith Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and the Wendish Historical Chapter. She was an active member of the South Getty Street Church of Christ. She is survived by a daughter, Sylvia Harp Owens and husband, Bob of San Marcos; three granddaughters, Laura Owens, Linda Owens Morel, and Leslie Longoria; six great-grandchildren, Austin, Christopher, and Erin Morel, and Allyson, Danielle, and Robert Longoria; one sister, Annabel Price of Knippa; numerous nieces and nephews; and her beloved provider, Rosemary Medina. She was preceded in death by her parents, O.B. and Lydia Selma Kessler; husband of 70 years, Vernon Odell Harp; brother, O.B. Kessler, Jr.; and sisters, Otelia Hanson and Adelia OBryant. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 15, 2009, at 1:30 PM at the Rushing-Estes-Knowles Chapel with burial to follow in Knippa Cemetery. King Burney will officiate. Pallbearers will be Bob Kessler, Terry Kessler, Kenneth Hanson, Eugene Price, George DuBois, Sr. and George DuBois, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be James Harp, Gary Harp, Michael Harp, Tom Stoner, Bob Lester, Ken Garrett, Jr., Zac Leon Gray, Taylor Langford, Ryan Duggan, Jeff DuBois, and the Elders of the South Getty Street Church of Christ. Memorial donations may be made to the South Getty Street Church of Christ, 200 S. Getty St., Uvalde, TX 78801 or the El Progreso Memorial Library, 301 W. Main St., Uvalde, TX 78801.
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Visitation

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
220 S. Getty St.
Uvalde, TX  78801
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
9:00 AM

Service

Chapel Service

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
220 S. Getty St.
Uvalde, TX  78801
Thursday, January 15, 2009
1:30 PM

Cemetery

Knippa Cemetery
Hwy. 90 East
Knippa, TX  78870

Memorial Contributions

El Progreso Memorial Library
301 W. Main St.
Uvalde, TX  78801

South Getty St. Church of Christ
200 S. Getty St.
Uvalde, TX  78801