Ernest "Pinky" Opp Passed Away

Ernest Opp
BETHALTO
September 04, 2009 9:01 PM

Ernest "Pinky" Opp, 84, passed away at 7 a.m., Friday, Sept. 4, 2009, at his home with his family by his side.

He was born in Good Hope, Ill., on Nov. 9, 1924, and raised in Bushnell, Ill. He married Doris (Goddard) Opp on Dec. 26, 1948, in Macomb, Ill. They celebrated 58 years together.

Pinky attended the University of Illinois and was a graduate of Western Illinois University in 1949. He was a submariner in World War II. He taught in Havana and Bethalto school districts, Lewis and Clark and Belleville area colleges and the St. Louis Regional Airport. He gave the freedom of flight to thousands in the metro area through his student plane rides, flight instructions and his aerobatic shows. He gave the joy of music and history to thousands more though his band and choral performances with the CM Band and Chorus and the Old Timers. He shared his love of boating and sailing with hundreds from Alton to the Florida Keys and his love of motorcycles with friends from coast to coast.

He was loved by many and survived by his four children and their spouses, Sharon Opp of 532 Shellview Dr. in Bethalto, Austin and Marg Opp of 326 E. Central in Bethalto, LaVeta and Kevin Kirby of 222 Parkside Ln., Oswego, Ill., and Irene Opp of 4416 LaClede Ave in St. Louis; 11 grandchildren, Brandon and Lizz Tinker, Ashleigh and Tim Peterson, Anthony and Fawn Tinker, Kathleen, Jim and Jessica Kirby-Butts, Todd, Ty and Corrie, Sam and Melanie and Ross Laux, Chris and Wendy Webster and Jared and Jen Watson; and seven great-grandchildren.

Pinky was a lifetime member of Rotary, the Masonic Lodge, VFW, Experimental Aircraft, Illinois Pilots, Aerobatic Pilots, Western Ill. Alumni, Young Eagles and the St. Louis Aero Club.
Donations may be made to any of the above organizations.

A wake will be held at a later date. We will remember him for his poetic singing of "Smile and the World Smiles with You."

Online condolences and a guestbook can be found at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com.

How to Fix the Economy!

This is from an article in the St. Petersburg , FL Times Newspaper on Sunday. The Business Section asked readers for ideas on "How Would You Fix the Economy?" I think this guy nailed it!

Dear Mr. President:
Please find below my suggestion for fixing America's economy. Instead of giving billions of dollars to companies that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan. You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan: There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force. Pay them $1 million apiece severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:
1) They MUST retire. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They MUST buy a new American CAR. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage - Housing Crisis fixed.

It can't get any easier than that! If more money is needed, have all members of Congress and their constituents pay their taxes...

If you think this would work, please forward to everyone you know. If not, please disregard. Then shoot yourself!!!! 1 job opening