Opal Lucele (Miller) Swartzentruber, 86, of Montgomery

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Opal Lucele (Miller) Swartzentruber graduated to her heavenly home on June 3 after a seven-month fight to recover from a serious automobile accident on Nov. 2, 2015.

She was born June 15, 1930, in Allen County, to the late Joseph and Fannie (Lichty) Miller.
Opal married her childhood sweetheart, Joseph Swartzentruber, May 6, 1951, in Montgomery.
They began their life together on a dairy farm where she milked cows and helped in the fields. It was here that their life of parenting began when Billy Page came to live with them. He was the first of many foster and “adopted” children to enter their home. Once you were a part of her family, you were there for life.
Opal’s love for cooking and her gift for hospitality gave her opportunity to entertain and cook for many people, at home, church camps, restaurants, and colleges, including Trinity Bible College and Sigma Nu Fraternity at Indiana University where she was always affectionately addressed as “mom.” A group of 25 was considered small potatoes. Her donuts, cinnamon rolls and dinner rolls were legendary and her grandchildren called her kitchen “GG’s Magic Kitchen.”
For many years, her influence was felt in Sunday school classes and as a Bible teacher as well as a pastor’s wife in three churches. She was a member of the Maranatha Class for the past 20 years. Her love for people was immense and she would rather have a cluttered house if cleaning meant spending less time at the kitchen table playing games and talking to those she loved.
Opal accompanied her husband throughout the United States building churches. On most projects she supported him as his office manager and also became a superintendent for one project.
Although she was not afforded the privilege of attending high school, she was determined to get her diploma and at age 61 received her GED, scoring the highest score ever recorded in the state of Georgia in the English portion of the test. An avid reader, she was well versed in many areas and could debate her position with confidence.
She was preceded in death by her parents, six siblings, and seven in-laws.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children, Galen Swartzentruber, Bonnie (Jeff) Rueb and Barbara (Dan) McLennan, all of Phoenix, Arizona, Nathan (Debra) Swartzentruber of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Brian (Jennifer) Swartzentruber of Strafford, Missouri; 14 grandchildren and six grandchildren-by-marriage; 10 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews and “adopted” family.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:30 a.m. July 8 at Providence Mennonite Church, 4738 E US Hwy 50, Montgomery, IN 47558
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Church on the Street, 3210 N.W. Grand Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85017, (602)346-8726.