Edward Opfell

Edward Floyd Opfell September 10, 1953 - March 17, 2020 Ed was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and grew up in Colonial Heights, Virginia. He was the second of five children born to James and Celeste Opfell. In May 1971, Ed graduated from Colonial Heights High School, where he enjoyed playing intramural basketball and clarinet in the school band. He was also a big Atlanta Braves fan, watching or listening to their games whenever he could. Ed attended Kent State University for a brief time before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1972. He spent most of his time in the Army in Germany, was proud of his work as an army motor transport operator and received an honorable discharge. He continued training in auto mechanics after his discharge. Ed suffered from a number of health challenges throughout his life and spent most of his adulthood under the care of the Veterans Administration. Throughout his life, he continued to enjoy music and sports, singing to all who would listen, socializing with his fellow veterans and pizza outings with family members. Ed is remembered by his family as a generous and kind-hearted soul who loved to laugh. Ed passed away on Tuesday March 17 at the VA Hospital in Montrose, NY of respiratory failure after a long illness. He was preceded in death by his parents, Celeste and James Opfell. He will be missed by his sisters Eleanor Ann Griffith (Richard Posmontier), Pamela Jean Hughes (Damian), and Constance Louise Opfell, his brother Thomas Clifford Opfell (Judy), his 8 nieces and nephews, and his grand-niece and grand-nephew. A Memorial Gathering of Family & Friends to Celebrate Ed's Life will be held at a later date, and Ed will be interred at the Gerald B.H. Solomon National Cemetery in Saratoga, NY, with military honors rendered by the United States Army Honor Guard. To offer a message of condolence or share a memory, please visit: www.libbyfuneralhome.com The Family would appreciate memorial donations to be made in Ed’s memory to either the Knights of Columbus Fr. Joseph Damin Assembly 718, P.O. Box 133, Montrose, NY 10548 –for whom would always host social events and gatherings for the veterans at the Montrose VA Hospital which Ed enjoyed greatly; or donations can be made to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) local chapter; 100 Clearbrook Road, Elmsford, NY 10523; or even memorial donations can be made to the VA Hudson Valley HCS Attn: Volunteer Services, 2094 Albany Post Road, Montrose, NY 10548 (please make check payable to ‘VA Hudson Valley HCS’ and memo: General Fund).