Opal Shepard

Opal Shepard, 90, of Goshen, died late Monday morning, October 15, 2007, at Courtyard Healthcare where she had been a resident since April 2003. She was born in Shipshewana on August 5, 1917, to Levi and Loretta Fern (Miller) Berkey.  She married Howard Berkeypile on March 10, 1947 in Goshen.  He died March 6, 1976.  On July 6, 1976, she married Raymond Fanta.  He died October 7, 2000.  She married Clarence Shepard on April 7, 2001 and he preceded her on December 10, 2003. A lifelong resident of the area, Mrs. Shepard was a charter member of Goshen Christian Church.  Prior to that she taught Sunday School at Milford Christian Church.  She worked as a clerk for G.C. Murphy’s for 25 years, retiring March 18, 1980. She is survived by a sister, Leola Kauffman of Middlebury and a brother, Elvon (Vera) Berkey of Elkhart. She was preceded in death by three husbands and six brothers, Cletus, Perry, Harley, Ray, Albert and Ora Berkey. Friends will be received 2 to 4 p.m., Wednesday, October 17, at the funeral home. A 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 18, 2007, funeral service will be conducted at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home.  Rev. Rick Brouillette of Holland, Michigan will officiate. Burial will be in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens, Osceola. Memorial contributions may be designated to Goshen Christian Church.