HEITSCH, Maria, 78, of Walburg died Friday. Services pending with Austin-Peel & Son.

Opal Wuensche left this world and her earthly body Sunday morning, Feb. 17. She left pain behind and joined loved ones already in the heavens. She survived polio, lived a full life, but age, fragile bones, weakening muscles and dementia overcame her body and ended its life. Her love and spirit remain in our hearts.

Opal was born September 1, 1928, in Johnson City, Texas, the first daughter of Martin and Ella Bible. She had two older brothers, James (decd) and Roy Bible, followed by John (decd) and Robert (decd) before sisters Ruby and Mary join the family. She was born during hard times and remembered hard work and avoiding waste were the only ways to survive the Great Depression. Her memories of working equally with Roy and her dad in the fields and with their animals shaped part of her life.

She learned how to hunt and fish and knew this meant food for the family. Gardening and canning were also routine and necessary. She could equal her brothers and continued life as a strong and independent person. Johnson City didn’t offer much to a young woman in the 1940’s and she headed for Austin. Here she met and fell in love with a returning Navy veteran from Thorndale, Texas, Walter “Mickey” Wuensche. They were married in 1947 and two families became one through their union.They started their own family with the birth of Linda, their only child. In 1958 polio struck Opal.

It was an incredible battle, with many months spent in the hospital and many more months in rehab at Warm Springs. She came out with a wheel chair, braces, crutches and determination not to have her life limited by the paralysis in her legs. She had a husband, daughter, love and support of family and friends and a life to live. She was a stay at home “mom” to many. She kept nieces and nephews while parents worked, Opal loved children and made an after school home for many neighborhood kids and the sons and daughters of family friends. The house was full of the laugher of babies and children and the messes they made. She loved them all as if they were her own. To her, they were all like her own and loved just as much.

Opal and Mickey were a team. He was from farm country, not Hill Country. Opal taught Mickey to hunt deer and put trot lines in the Pedernales. Week-ends were always filled with trips to the rivers, lakes, coast or the ranches around Johnson City. Eventually farming became another chapter in their lives and you would find them in Thorndale on the week-ends, enjoying their cows, the land, the work and fishing in the ponds. They were never short of helping hands. “Second sons” joined them to help with work so they could enjoy the sports of hunting and fishing after the chores were done. Fun was had in work and play and the food was always good. Opal saw to that.

A balance was created and lessons were learned. Opal wanted to see Las Vegas. Mickey had to have a stroke to see the light. He decided he could get on a plane and off they went. They were hooked on flying and enjoyed many more trips to several casinos with their good friends Dutch, Minnie, Billie and others. Life was a party and Opal usually succeeded in bringing home more than she left. After Mickey lost his battle with cancer in 2010, Opal made a few more trips to casinos with family, creating happy memories for all.

Opal is survived by her daughter, Linda, brother Roy and wife Joyce, sisters Mary and Ruby, sister-in-laws Anne (James), Lillie (Robert) and Marge Williams (Roy Wuensche), numerous nieces and nephews, “second sons and daughters” of heart, and the extended families of the Glauninger and Lamoreaux clans, and the “girls”, Sadie and Sophie, her Akitas.

Visitation will be at 10:00 am Thursday, February 21, followed by a memorial tribute at 11:00 at Harrell Funeral Home, Austin, TX. Burial: 1:00 at Miller Creek Cemetery, Henley, TX. Although Opal loved flowers, she also loved animals. Memorial contributions can be made in her honor to Animal Rescue or the Austin Humane Society.

Special thanks to Marge Williams and her family for the love and care given to Opal during the most difficult time of her life, the time she was confined to bed. The many visits of loyal extended family members Gwen, Twanda, Dave, Debra, and Kathy were also greatly appreciated. Thank- you to everyone who helped care for her when it was needed.

PALM, Gregory A. “Goose,” 41, process technician, of Rockdale, formerly of Thorndale, died Saturday. Survived by wife Michelle. Visitation 11 a.m. and services 1 p.m. Friday, Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home, Rockdale.

Elynor Genevieve Ruddy died peacefully on February 19, 2013 in Austin.

She was born April 11, 1915 in Chicago, Illinois to Laura M. (Polubinski) and Patrick A. Quinn. Upon graduation from Lindblum High School, Elynor went to work at the Chicago office of United Airlines where she remained until her marriage to Charles James “Ted” Ruddy on April 27, 1946. Ted’s job with Sears Roebuck Co. brought them to Houston, Texas in 1947 where they raised their daughters, Laurie and Carol.

After Ted’s death, Elynor remained in Houston until moving to Sun City, Texas in 1996. There she made many good and lasting friendships. She joined St. Helens’ Catholic Church and served as a greeter. From there, she moved to Austin to be closer to Laurie. Elynor pursued various volunteer interests over the course of many years: she was a volunteer for 17 years with Taping for the Blind, 8 years with the Mother’s Club of St. Agnes Academy, collected wigs for cancer patients, delivered meals to elderly of Corpus Christi Parish, Brownie Girl Scout leader, served as a Eucharistic Minister, was a regular blood donor, election poll worker, member of the Sacred Heart Family Guild.

When her children were older, Elynor returned to part time work for the Houston Convention Bureau where she met many interesting people from many industries. She enjoyed playing Bridge, baking cookies, traveling overseas, helping her neighbors, being a grandmother, and eating Blue Bell ice cream. For many years she was an avid exerciser, taking classes at the local community center and taking brisk walks around her neighborhood.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted, her brothers, Walter Quinn (Therese), Bernard Quinn (Helen), George “Bud” Quinn and her sister, Marie Costello (Bill). She is survived by her daughter, Laurie E. Ruddy of Austin; granddaughter, Molly L. Simpson of Austin, granddaughter, Julie S. Guinta (Christopher) of Houston; her daughter, Carol Ruddy-Hara (Todd) of San Diego, California; grandchildren, Patrick and Neil Hara of San Diego, California; several nieces and nephews in Dallas and Chicago.

The family would like to thank Odyssey Hospice, Park Bend Health Center and her good friend, Sally Espinosa, for their care and support. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from half past six o’clock until eight o’clock in the evening, on Friday, the 22nd of February 2013, at Cook-Walden Funeral Home, 6100 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, Texas. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at half past ten o’clock in the morning on Saturday, the 23rd of February, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 4311 Small Drive, Austin, Texas.

Published in Austin American-Statesman on February 22, 2013

Neal (H.N.) Clarkson of Austin passed away on February 23, 2013.

He was born in Hutto, Texas on August 12, 1918, and grew up in Bastrop. He attended Schreiner Institute and then the University of Texas, where he earned a BS and then an MS in physics. He then taught at Texas A&I in Kingsville where he met and married Melba Gillespie. During World War II, he worked at the Naval Ordinance Lab in Solomons, Maryland and in England. During the war, he became a Naval Officer.

After the war, he participated in testing the atomic bomb on Bikini Atoll. He then returned to Kingsville and taught physics at A&I and earned his PhD from UT in 1954. In 1955, he began working at LaCoste-Romberg making gravity meters. He continued working there until he was 86, and he greatly loved his many productive years there. The greatest love of his life, however, was Melba, who preceded him in death. Together, they raised three children and lived life with joy. Together, they forged many long, dear friendships and cherished them through all their 63 years. They traveled extensively, with family and as a couple, and they spent many of their happiest moments in Port Aransas.

He is survived by his three children, Robert Clarkson (Peta), Terry Martinez (David), and Suzy Holstein (Jim), who will always be grateful for the love he showed them and the integrity he taught them. He was affectionately loved as “Papa Neal” by grandchildren Kim Vincent (Mike), Timaeus Martinez, Sofia Martinez (David Blumenthal), Glenna Holstein, Matthew Clarkson, Rachel Clarkson, Melida Holstein, and Michaela Clarkson, as well as great-grandchildren Chris and Rachel Vincent and Mateo, Ilario, and Paloma Blumenthal. He is also survived by a sister-in-law, Dotty Carter, and two brothers-in-law Roy and Victor Gillespie.

To honor his memory, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to Planned Parenthood or People’s Community Clinic of Austin, 2909 N. IH-35, 78722. A visitation will be held from 1:30 pm until 2:30 pm, Thursday, February 28, 2013 at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks in Pflugerville. The funeral service will begin following the visitation at 2:30 pm. Interment will follow at Cook-Walden/Capital Parks Cemetery.

Carol Ann Clark, of Bastrop, passed away on March 1, 2013 at age 79.

She was born to Herman Forrest Brigham and Sarah Florence Thornburg on December 27, 1933. Carol is preceded in death by her beloved husband, James W. Clark; her parents; and her brother, David Brigham.

She is survived by her sister, Janice Goan; sons, David D. Clark (Chun) and Jay S. Clark; and granddaughters, Caroline J. Clark and Stephanie I. Clark.

Her family will host a visitation on Wednesday, March 6 from 6-8pm at Marrs-Jones-Newby Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be conducted Thursday, March 7 at 1pm at Marrs-Jones-Newby Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.