I dug back in my diary of my trip around the US for this description of my visit with Opal. In the Spring of 2004 I flew around the country and taking Percy’s recommendation, made a special stop in Roswell to meet Opal. It was right after his 93 birthday.
This is the note in my diary. It was one of the best days of an extraordinary trip. I will never forget Opal. May 19, 2004 “Hello, is this Opal Walker?” “Hello, Hello…who is this? What do you want? What??? What???” “I’m looking for Opal Walker.” His tone of voice told me he was about to hang up on another salesman. “Wait…wait…I’m Allen Rothenberg.” “ Who? Who? What?” I’m thinking this must be Opal. It sounds like an old man who can’t hear and doesn’t want to be bothered. I can’t let him hang up. I came to Roswell just to meet him. No time for explanations. “Ercoupe,” I say, followed by, “Percy Wood.” “How do you know Percy?” “ Percy told me to contact you. I’m flying an Ercoupe and just landed in Roswell.” His tone changed immediately. He was welcoming. In the conversation that followed I explained that I was flying an Ercoupe and Percy had contacted me hoping that I would be able to stop in Roswell and meet you. “I’ve got an Ercoupe,” said Opal. >From there on it got much better. Opal invited me to stay at his place and >came to pick me up. This was special because Opal is 93 years old. He still drives. He still drives at night. Most important, he still flies his Ercoupe. In his white pick-up with a tank in back for auto gas that he uses to fill his coupe, Opal took me on a tour of Roswell. At about 10 miles an hour I was able to absorb many details. After the tour we stopped for dinner and I had the opportunity to learn more about this delightful man. He is on his third Ercoupe. He has had three wives each of whom died. Actually, he told me, he wasn’t married to the third one. They just lived together for, I think he said, 17 years. He told me about his family, his work and his 75 years in Roswell. He came to Roswell in 1929, the year I was born. At his home he continued to share pictures of his airplane, stories about his trips, his home and his family. When I thanked him for his hospitality his response was, “anybody who flies an Ercoupe needs all the help he can get.” He said he was really happy to have someone to visit with and his warmth was genuine. He also said he would like to have another woman as a regular companion. I loved him even more. Next morning he took me to the airport and gave me specific instructions on the best way to El Paso from Roswell. “After about 15 minutes, you will see this mountain on your right. Turn into the valley to the south of the mountain…etc. etc. etc. Sharp as a tack. The folks at the FBO greeted him as the somebody special he was. >All aviators, > >I just found out that Opal Walker passed away last night. Funeral >will be on the 16th. More details will probably be in the paper soon. > >Opal loved to fly his Ercoupe. > "Prop me up in my ol' Ercoupe when I die. Tell the folks at the airport I've gone to fly Where my tank is always full of gas, and the good weather will never pass. Prop me up in my ol' Ercoupe when I die." With appologies to Diffie Tailwinds forever, Opal. Percy in SE Bama
