Dodge City - Opal Margaret (Cordes) Dirks, died on Sunday, March 9, 2014 at Kindred Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri.
Opal was born October 6, 1921 on the farm of parents Barthold H. and Pauline M. (Eckhoff) Cordes, in rural Meade County, Ks. Opal was baptized as an infant at St. John Lutheran Church, Meade, Ks. by her Uncle, Rev. Wm. Hilst. Opal was confirmed, and received into communicant membership at Hope Lutheran Church, rural Ford County, Ks. in 1936 by Rev. F. Wiebke. Opal was a faithful member all her life.
Opal graduated from Meade High School in May 1940, and then attended Dodge City Jr. College. Opal received her teaching degree in 1942. She then taught school at Atwater School in Rural Meade County, and also at Liberty Knoll School outside of Plains, Ks.
On December 31, 1944, Opal married Staff Sergeant Harold F. Dirks, in Santa Maria, Ca. During Harold's years in the service, Opal worked for school districts, supervising children. During that time she also worked as a cook in several school cafeterias, as well as being a cashier at the Sears store in Tyler, Tx.
After Harold's discharge from the service in February 1946, they moved to Harold's home place south of Dodge City, where they farmed and had a dairy.
For many years thereafter, Opal was involved in the life of Hope Lutheran Church. She sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, Junior Mission Band, was active in the church women's group and, was the custodian for the church. Additionally, Opal was active in the local Ford County DIY Extension Unit, 4-H activities, and served as an election board polling worker for several years.-
Opal was preceded in death by her husband Harold F. Dirks, who passed away on October 20, 1980. Also preceding her in death were her parents, Barthold H. Cordes and Pauline M. Cordes; her twin brother, Arthur Cordes (killed in WWII); a sister, Christina (Cordes) Wurdeman and brother in law, Carl Wurdeman; brother, John Cordes and sister- in- law, Loraine Cordes; brother, Chester Cordes and sisters- in- law, Jonnie Cordes and Vera Cordes.
Surviving children are Arthur Dirks of Dodge City; Randall Dirks and his wife Katherine, of Garden City; Susan (Dirks) Carlson and her husband Kenneth Carlson of Overland Park, Ks.; and Arlan Dirks of Independence, Mo. Surviving grandchildren are Melodee (Dirks) Penner and her husband Abe Penner and their daughter Julia of Sublette, Ks.; Tyler Dirks and his wife Carrie, and their children, Maggie, Henry, Haven and Phinehas of Charlotte, N.C.; and Matthew Carlson of Overland Park, Ks. Opal is survived by many nieces and nephews.
Funeral will begin at 10:30 A.M. Friday, March 14, at Christ The King Lutheran Church, in Dodge City. Interment will follow at Christ The King Cemetery, rural Ford County.
Visitation hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Swaim Funeral Home in Dodge City. Memorials may be given to: Life Outreach International, Project Mission Feeding at 800-947-5433. Thoughts and memories may be shared at www.swaimfuneralhome.com