Opal Atkinson Harkness

Opal Atkinson Harkness died Wednesday, April 2, 2008, in Cape Coral. She was born in Muskingum County, Ohio.

She graduated from New Concord High School and attended Muskingum College and Ohio Northern University. She later earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind. She taught school for 46 years in Ohio, Indiana and Florida.

She moved to Cape Coral from Muncie, Ind., in 1964. She retired from teaching at Cape Elementary School in 1979. After retiring, she volunteered 7,000 hours at Cape Coral Hospital. She was a member of the Cape Coral First United Methodist Church and the Cape Coral Hospital Auxiliary, and was a longtime member of the Kriss Kross Square Dance Club.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Edgar E. Harkness; parents, Lorin and Florence Hogan Atkinson of Norwich, Ohio; five brothers; two sisters; and one nephew.

Among her survivors are nieces, Bonnie Vinsel of Zanesville, Ohio, and Jane Healy of Vail, Colo.; cousin, Aridean McClelland of South Zanesville, Ohio; and many wonderful friends and neighbors.

A funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Metz Funeral Chapel with the Rev. James Paulson officiating. Friends are invited to call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Coral Ridge Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please make a gift to your favorite charity.

Arrangements by the Metz Chapel of Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz Funeral Homes and Crematory.