William Oppel

Services for William “Bill” Oppel, 72, of Cleburne will be conducted at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, December 30, 2023, in the Crosier-Pearson Cleburne Chapel.

Surrounded by his wife and three daughters, Bill went to be with the Lord December 20, 2023. He was born March 17, 1951, in Roswell, New Mexico—the first of four sons to Joe and Jo Oppel. Bill met Dian Kay Oelschlegel in September 1973 and, wasting no time, proposed six weeks later. Bill and Dian married in Odem, Texas on February 8, 1974, and have been virtually inseparable ever since. Bill was a longtime member of the United Presbyterian Church in Cleburne.

In his career, Bill followed his passion for cars by owning and operating Goodyear Tire & Auto in Cleburne for over 30 years. He was proud to call Cleburne home and served the community in a variety of ways—as a Cleburne ISD School Board Trustee, a member of the Cleburne Economic Development Foundation Board of Directors, and as a coach and sponsor of Little Dribblers basketball, to name a few. He enjoyed restoring muscle cars, spending time with his family at Possum Kingdom Lake and working in his yard. Bill also loved playing with his dogs Sasha, Aspen, and Mia. But above all, Bill was a devoted father to his three daughters, his pride and joy. Words cannot capture the richness and depth of love Bill had for his family.

Bill is survived by his wife of almost 50 years, Dian Oppel; daughters, Melanie Facer and husband, Scot, Stephanie Ryer and husband, Mark, Valerie Day and husband, Clayton; grandchildren: Emmersen, Lane, Madden, Aubrynn, Kendall, Slade and Stone; brothers, Ray Oppel and wife Susan, and Jack Oppel and wife, Patty.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jim Oppel.

The family would like to thank Classic Chevrolet of Cleburne for their support and friendship, as well as the caretakers at Santa Fe Trails and Wings Over Texas Hospice. You are angels on Earth and we are forever grateful for the love, respect and care our family received from each of you.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Dementia Society of America or the Parkinson's Foundation.