Opal Leota Ashenbrenner

December 3, 1928 ~ July 12, 2023

Opal Leota Harris was born in Blanchard, Oklahoma, December 3,1928 to Mary Emma and Elijah Frank Harris. She went home to be with her Lord on July 12,2023.

Proceeding Opal in death were her husband Donald Ashenbrenner, and her son, Dr. Paul Alan Koonce,

her parents, Frank and Emmie Harris, and five siblings; Katie Bell Miller, William Harris, Rayford Harris, Ella Bergstresser, and Wanda Moore.

Opal married Guy Leonard Koonce in May of 1947. In 1952 her daughter, Karen Sue Koonce was born …in 1954 her son Paul Alan Koonce was born. The family lived in Oklahoma City. After 30 years of marriage, Guy and Opal divorced.

At that time, Opal went to secretarial school and was certified. Then she was employed at FAA at Tinker Field in Midwest City until she was transferred to FAA in Oklahoma City. While working for the Government, Opal received many outstanding performance awards, including a National Award for Excellence in Washington D.C. by the National Secretary of Transportation. She retired from the FAA Mike Moroney Aeronautical Center in 1997 after more than 20 years of service.

In 1992 Opal and Don were married. They enjoyed traveling and taking as many trips as possible!

Opal was a faithful member of Southern Hills Baptist Church, in Oklahoma City. She loved her church and the members of the Sunday School classes she taught over the years. Opal will be remembered especially by those lives she touched while serving as the Singles Director at Southern Hills. From 1985-1990, many single adults were led to the Lord and their lives were changed through this ministry. Opal served as Consultant for the Baptist Sunday School Board of Nashville Tennessee, presenting Divorce Recovery workshops and working with singles adults through out the Southern Baptist Convention.

She has been a frequent writer for various publications over the years and has authored three books and had plans for two more.

After retirement from FAA and Don's death in 2008, Opal moved to Village on the Park Independent Living facility in August of 2014 and led many Bible Studies there.

Opal's (better known as GRANAPPLE) love for her family, her enjoyment of life and her complete dependence on the Lord is the legacy she leaves her children, her grandchildren and her great grandchildren.

Survivors include her daughter Susie and husband Jack Johnson of Amarillo,TX, Daughter-in-law Terri Koonce of Oklahoma City,OK.

Grandchildren: Brian and Melissa Koonce of Gladstone,MO Kelly and Ryan Charles of Oklahoma City,OK Jordan and Jo Johnson of Jenks,OK

Brooke and Brent Maples of Amarillo,TX.

Great Grandchildren: Emma Jo and Jack Christopher Johnson, Reed Daniel, Luke Malekano and Andrew Alan Charles.

Also survived by Don's children, Stacey and Mike Loeffler Bristow,OK and children Greg and Holly.

Vicki Ashenbrenner of Greenville,TN , Michael Bacon of Auburndale,FL, Jackie and Darryl Welch of Edmond,Ok and children, Leslie Johnson and Jerry Welch and families.

Survivors also include the many nieces and nephews and the many people that caller her friend!