Born Opal Virginia Engstrom in Dwight, Kansas. She was a school teacher before she married Harry Hoch and the mother of 4 sons: Lowell Edwin, Donald Lawrence, Willis Marion, and Arthur Andrew. She died in the farm house that her parents had owned early in her life. The family farm at Dwight was actually across the county line (the road was the line between Geary County and Morris County) in Geary County, so technically she died in Geary County, not Morris County, even though the farm had a "Dwight" address.
OBITUARY
DEATH OF MRS. HARRY HOCH
Our community was saddened Saturday when it was learned that Mrs. Harry (Opal) Hoch had passed away at 8:30 a.m. Opal had been in failing health the past 18 months, having undergone a severe surgical operation in February of 1952. Her indomitable courage and will-power enabled her to remain fairly active until about six weeks ago. Knowing that her death was near, she still remained cheeful, and her bravery set a pattern for her loved ones and friends.
Funeral services were Monday afternoon at the Presbyterian church, where she had been a devoted worker for many years. Rev. R. E. McCleskey of Topeka and Rev. Robt. B. Caldwell officiated. Music was furnished by a mixed quartet: Mrs. Jake Burson, Mrs. Geo. Eberle, Dorman Meyers, and Merlin Houser, accompanied by Mrs. Lowell Miller.
The church was beautiful with masses of flowers sent from far and near. The flowers were cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Morris Dowell and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Clemens. Casket bearers were W. R. Nace, Ernest Hoyle, Ernest Simmons of Dwight, Bill Mayer and Lou Andres of Alta Vista and Harry Meinhardt of Junction City.
The unusally large number of relatives and friends attending the service was estimated at between four and five hundred. Burial was in Dwight cemetery.
Dinner was served the family at the home Monday by the Presbyterian ladies aid, and afternoon coffee by members of the Sunflower Farm Bureau.
Opal Virginia Engstrom, daughter of Andrew and Myrtle Engstrom, was born September 2, 1903, in Dwight and departed this life at her home near Dwight on September 5, 1953, at the age of 50 years and 3 days.
She grew to young womanhood in the Dwight community where she attended public school, and graduated from the Alta Vista high school with the class of 1921. She then entered the school teaching profession for the next six years, teaching in the schools of Morris and Geary counties.
In May of 1927 she was united in marriage to Harry Hoch of the Emmanuel community, (southeast of Alta Vista, KS) where they took up residence for several years before moving to the Dwight community. To this union four sons were born. She is survived by her husband and the four sons: Lowell, Don and Willis, who are attending McPherson College, and Arthur of the home; her mother, Mrs. Myrtle Engstrom; two sisters, Dorothy Smith of Topeka and Florence Lemley of Dwight; two brothers, Charles of Ottawa and John of Topeka; two grandchildren, Tony Laine Hoch, and Patricia Louise Hoch; and other relatives.
In early life she took interest in the church and was a life-time member of the Dwight Presbyterian church except for 11 years when she was a member of the Emmanuel Methodist church. She taught in the Sunday school for many years and served her church in other capacities. She was active in community affairs.
She was a devoted wife and mother, a sincere Christian and a true friend. She was loved by all who knew her. She was patient in her suffering through the months of her illness, confidently accepted the knowledge that she soon would be going to the Father's house.
----Dwight section of the Alta Vista Journal, Sept. 10, 1953
OBITUARY
DEATH OF MRS. HARRY HOCH
Our community was saddened Saturday when it was learned that Mrs. Harry (Opal) Hoch had passed away at 8:30 a.m. Opal had been in failing health the past 18 months, having undergone a severe surgical operation in February of 1952. Her indomitable courage and will-power enabled her to remain fairly active until about six weeks ago. Knowing that her death was near, she still remained cheeful, and her bravery set a pattern for her loved ones and friends.
Funeral services were Monday afternoon at the Presbyterian church, where she had been a devoted worker for many years. Rev. R. E. McCleskey of Topeka and Rev. Robt. B. Caldwell officiated. Music was furnished by a mixed quartet: Mrs. Jake Burson, Mrs. Geo. Eberle, Dorman Meyers, and Merlin Houser, accompanied by Mrs. Lowell Miller.
The church was beautiful with masses of flowers sent from far and near. The flowers were cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Morris Dowell and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Clemens. Casket bearers were W. R. Nace, Ernest Hoyle, Ernest Simmons of Dwight, Bill Mayer and Lou Andres of Alta Vista and Harry Meinhardt of Junction City.
The unusally large number of relatives and friends attending the service was estimated at between four and five hundred. Burial was in Dwight cemetery.
Dinner was served the family at the home Monday by the Presbyterian ladies aid, and afternoon coffee by members of the Sunflower Farm Bureau.
Opal Virginia Engstrom, daughter of Andrew and Myrtle Engstrom, was born September 2, 1903, in Dwight and departed this life at her home near Dwight on September 5, 1953, at the age of 50 years and 3 days.
She grew to young womanhood in the Dwight community where she attended public school, and graduated from the Alta Vista high school with the class of 1921. She then entered the school teaching profession for the next six years, teaching in the schools of Morris and Geary counties.
In May of 1927 she was united in marriage to Harry Hoch of the Emmanuel community, (southeast of Alta Vista, KS) where they took up residence for several years before moving to the Dwight community. To this union four sons were born. She is survived by her husband and the four sons: Lowell, Don and Willis, who are attending McPherson College, and Arthur of the home; her mother, Mrs. Myrtle Engstrom; two sisters, Dorothy Smith of Topeka and Florence Lemley of Dwight; two brothers, Charles of Ottawa and John of Topeka; two grandchildren, Tony Laine Hoch, and Patricia Louise Hoch; and other relatives.
In early life she took interest in the church and was a life-time member of the Dwight Presbyterian church except for 11 years when she was a member of the Emmanuel Methodist church. She taught in the Sunday school for many years and served her church in other capacities. She was active in community affairs.
She was a devoted wife and mother, a sincere Christian and a true friend. She was loved by all who knew her. She was patient in her suffering through the months of her illness, confidently accepted the knowledge that she soon would be going to the Father's house.
----Dwight section of the Alta Vista Journal, Sept. 10, 1953
Born Opal Virginia Engstrom in Dwight, Kansas. She was a school teacher before she married Harry Hoch and the mother of 4 sons: Lowell Edwin, Donald Lawrence, Willis Marion, and Arthur Andrew. She died in the farm house that her parents had owned early in her life. The family farm at Dwight was actually across the county line (the road was the line between Geary County and Morris County) in Geary County, so technically she died in Geary County, not Morris County, even though the farm had a "Dwight" address.
OBITUARY
DEATH OF MRS. HARRY HOCH
Our community was saddened Saturday when it was learned that Mrs. Harry (Opal) Hoch had passed away at 8:30 a.m. Opal had been in failing health the past 18 months, having undergone a severe surgical operation in February of 1952. Her indomitable courage and will-power enabled her to remain fairly active until about six weeks ago. Knowing that her death was near, she still remained cheeful, and her bravery set a pattern for her loved ones and friends.
Funeral services were Monday afternoon at the Presbyterian church, where she had been a devoted worker for many years. Rev. R. E. McCleskey of Topeka and Rev. Robt. B. Caldwell officiated. Music was furnished by a mixed quartet: Mrs. Jake Burson, Mrs. Geo. Eberle, Dorman Meyers, and Merlin Houser, accompanied by Mrs. Lowell Miller.
The church was beautiful with masses of flowers sent from far and near. The flowers were cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Morris Dowell and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Clemens. Casket bearers were W. R. Nace, Ernest Hoyle, Ernest Simmons of Dwight, Bill Mayer and Lou Andres of Alta Vista and Harry Meinhardt of Junction City.
The unusally large number of relatives and friends attending the service was estimated at between four and five hundred. Burial was in Dwight cemetery.
Dinner was served the family at the home Monday by the Presbyterian ladies aid, and afternoon coffee by members of the Sunflower Farm Bureau.
Opal Virginia Engstrom, daughter of Andrew and Myrtle Engstrom, was born September 2, 1903, in Dwight and departed this life at her home near Dwight on September 5, 1953, at the age of 50 years and 3 days.
She grew to young womanhood in the Dwight community where she attended public school, and graduated from the Alta Vista high school with the class of 1921. She then entered the school teaching profession for the next six years, teaching in the schools of Morris and Geary counties.
In May of 1927 she was united in marriage to Harry Hoch of the Emmanuel community, (southeast of Alta Vista, KS) where they took up residence for several years before moving to the Dwight community. To this union four sons were born. She is survived by her husband and the four sons: Lowell, Don and Willis, who are attending McPherson College, and Arthur of the home; her mother, Mrs. Myrtle Engstrom; two sisters, Dorothy Smith of Topeka and Florence Lemley of Dwight; two brothers, Charles of Ottawa and John of Topeka; two grandchildren, Tony Laine Hoch, and Patricia Louise Hoch; and other relatives.
In early life she took interest in the church and was a life-time member of the Dwight Presbyterian church except for 11 years when she was a member of the Emmanuel Methodist church. She taught in the Sunday school for many years and served her church in other capacities. She was active in community affairs.
She was a devoted wife and mother, a sincere Christian and a true friend. She was loved by all who knew her. She was patient in her suffering through the months of her illness, confidently accepted the knowledge that she soon would be going to the Father's house.
----Dwight section of the Alta Vista Journal, Sept. 10, 1953
OBITUARY
DEATH OF MRS. HARRY HOCH
Our community was saddened Saturday when it was learned that Mrs. Harry (Opal) Hoch had passed away at 8:30 a.m. Opal had been in failing health the past 18 months, having undergone a severe surgical operation in February of 1952. Her indomitable courage and will-power enabled her to remain fairly active until about six weeks ago. Knowing that her death was near, she still remained cheeful, and her bravery set a pattern for her loved ones and friends.
Funeral services were Monday afternoon at the Presbyterian church, where she had been a devoted worker for many years. Rev. R. E. McCleskey of Topeka and Rev. Robt. B. Caldwell officiated. Music was furnished by a mixed quartet: Mrs. Jake Burson, Mrs. Geo. Eberle, Dorman Meyers, and Merlin Houser, accompanied by Mrs. Lowell Miller.
The church was beautiful with masses of flowers sent from far and near. The flowers were cared for by Mr. and Mrs. Morris Dowell and Mr. and Mrs. Everett Clemens. Casket bearers were W. R. Nace, Ernest Hoyle, Ernest Simmons of Dwight, Bill Mayer and Lou Andres of Alta Vista and Harry Meinhardt of Junction City.
The unusally large number of relatives and friends attending the service was estimated at between four and five hundred. Burial was in Dwight cemetery.
Dinner was served the family at the home Monday by the Presbyterian ladies aid, and afternoon coffee by members of the Sunflower Farm Bureau.
Opal Virginia Engstrom, daughter of Andrew and Myrtle Engstrom, was born September 2, 1903, in Dwight and departed this life at her home near Dwight on September 5, 1953, at the age of 50 years and 3 days.
She grew to young womanhood in the Dwight community where she attended public school, and graduated from the Alta Vista high school with the class of 1921. She then entered the school teaching profession for the next six years, teaching in the schools of Morris and Geary counties.
In May of 1927 she was united in marriage to Harry Hoch of the Emmanuel community, (southeast of Alta Vista, KS) where they took up residence for several years before moving to the Dwight community. To this union four sons were born. She is survived by her husband and the four sons: Lowell, Don and Willis, who are attending McPherson College, and Arthur of the home; her mother, Mrs. Myrtle Engstrom; two sisters, Dorothy Smith of Topeka and Florence Lemley of Dwight; two brothers, Charles of Ottawa and John of Topeka; two grandchildren, Tony Laine Hoch, and Patricia Louise Hoch; and other relatives.
In early life she took interest in the church and was a life-time member of the Dwight Presbyterian church except for 11 years when she was a member of the Emmanuel Methodist church. She taught in the Sunday school for many years and served her church in other capacities. She was active in community affairs.
She was a devoted wife and mother, a sincere Christian and a true friend. She was loved by all who knew her. She was patient in her suffering through the months of her illness, confidently accepted the knowledge that she soon would be going to the Father's house.
----Dwight section of the Alta Vista Journal, Sept. 10, 1953
