Sarah Opal Bear

Sarah Opal Bear, 85 of Washington, died Sunday, June 15, 2003 in Humbert Lane Health Care Center. She had formerly lived in Pennsauken, New Jersey for 52 years. Sarah was born on January 1, 1918 in Ruston, LA a daughter of John Harvey and Maude Colvin Hightower. She grew up in Houston, Texas and graduated at the age of 14 from Milby High School making her the youngest graduate in that city on record. She is a fourth generation Presbyterian and most recently was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Washington. Mrs. Bear was a home maker and actively volunteered in the inner cities for more than 25 years. She was an amateur Genealogist, having documented the lineage of her family. She belonged to the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Confederacy, Colonial Dames XVII Century and Ladies of the Thistle. In November of 1942 she married Samuel Bear who survives. Also surviving are three sons, John Bear of St Johns, Newfoundland, Samuel Bear of Washington, and Colvin Bear of Urbana, Ohio as well as four grandchildren, Charles, Andrew, Howard, and John Bear. She is preceded in death by 11 brothers and sisters. Private services will be held at the convenience of the family and burial will follow in South Park Cemetery, Houston, Texas. The family requests memorial donations to the charity of ones choice.