Opal Marie Upchurch

Opal Marie Upchurch, age 87, passed away Friday, November 20, 2020 at Glen Oaks Health Campus in New Castle. She was born August 15, 1933 to R.Z. and Nova (Crabtree) Hollars in Parnell, Kentucky.

She moved to New Castle when she was 18 and worked at Hooks Drug Store and Western Electric in Indianapolis for a short time. She made beautiful quilts and enjoyed growing flowers and vegetables, cooking, crocheting, knitting, fishing and traveling. She was the bookkeeper for Upchurch Construction for many years. She was an active, faithful member of SouthSide Church of the Nazarene. She hosted many gatherings of family, friends and church parties. Opal loved God, her husband and her family. She was a light-hearted, kind, caring lady who will be greatly missed.

She is survived by two sons, Dr. Rick (Mary Margaret) Upchurch of Jackson, Mississippi, Ronald (Pamela) Upchurch of Cleveland, Tennessee; one daughter, Rita ( Trevor) Stanley of Centerville; five grandchildren, Erika Upchurch of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Benjamin ( Ryann) Stanley of Goshen, Matthew ( Alyssa) Stanley of Nashville, Richard ( Morgan) of Hanna City, Illinois, and Brandon ( Karen) of Kokomo; 12 great-grandchildren; four sisters-in-law, Irene Roberts Conyers, Phyllis Upchurch and Marilyn Upchurch, all of New Castle, & Sevella Upchurch of Indianapolis; one brother-in-law, Gary (Becky) Upchurch of New Castle; one brother-in-law , Robert Barr of Centreville, Virginia and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Clay Upchurch of New Castle, whom she married December 24, 1953; her parents; four brothers and their wives, William Walter & Elva Hollars, Odie & Gladys Hollars, Ralph & Gladys Hollars and Jack & Sue Hollars; three sisters and their husbands, Lilly & Floyd Dane, Irene & Ottis Sullivan and Susie & Ellis Watson; one sister-in-law, Nadine Barr and six brothers-in-law, Arthur, Charlie, Bill & Duke Upchurch , Forest Roberts & Charlie Conyers.

A graveside celebration service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 5, 2020 at South Mound Cemetery with Pastor Randy Tooley officiating. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Friday, December 4, 2020 at Hinsey-Brown Funeral Service in New Castle. Memorial contributions may be given to SouthSide Church of the Nazarene. Due to COVID-19 and the governor’s mandate face coverings are required. You may express condolences or share a memory of Opal at www.hinsey-brown.com .