Opal Irene Robbins (1911-1995)

Opal Irene Robbins was born January 6th, 1911 to Robert Lee Robbins and Nora Burleson.

in 1929, while her family was living in Roby, Texas, she met Berlin Frances Elliott, a boarder who worked on the local highways and lived next door. He was known on the 1930 Census as "Bud" Elliott, with his occupation being highway laborer. Her husband was known as BF Elliott for most of his adult life, being referred to as that even in newspaper articles announcing his death.

They were married on November 15th, 1930, at the First Baptist Church in Altus, Oklahoma - it is unknown why they traveled so far away from home, a journey that in 2025 takes six hours, and must have been at least a days travel in 1930. He was listed as a boarder that lived next door to her, and occupation being a highway worker - maybe he moved as the job took him, and she traveled after they courted, to where he was working at the time, although on the marriage license he states his place of residence was Roby, Texas.

She was a devout Christian, and kept a prayer journal over various periods.

In 1957, Berlin died in a hospital in Victoria, Texas.

She went to college after Berlin died, and became a teacher for the disabled.

After retirement, she moved to a senior living apartment in Alice. While living there, she met a widower 10 years her senior, WB Cannon. They married in 1979. In 1981, he passed away, leaving her widowed a second time. She did not remarry again.

Places Lived

Roby, Texas

145 Concho Street - Address on 1930 Census. Commercial area now, any residential houses are long gone. Google maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/RNMt3pXgf7Wn4TgR8

Victoria, Texas

1808 Polk Avenue - Address on receipt for funeral services for Berlin in 1957. Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/FbU7HLfRB1q9RvDW6

Refugio, Texas

Rural area according to 1940 Census.

Alice, Texas

912 N Reynolds - Address on 1950 Cencus - Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/sdG45XZAwV6NpnvE6

600 E Front Street, #505 - Address on death certificate. Google Maps link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tRTvVUw4DiR6p5z7A

Unknown Town

Central Street - this note was on a picture of a house that was taken by her son David in the early 2000's but no idea what town it was in.

Links

Census

1920: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCML-4SZ?lang=en

1930: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HTHQ-9PZ?lang=en

1940: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:HTHQ-9PZ?lang=en

1950: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XG5-C7RV?lang=en

Marriage Certificate

https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XVLV-B78?lang=en