A letter from Opal Crall to John Carmack
Found while unpacking some boxes
May xx, 2002
Opal Hampton-Crall
Rt 1 Box 86
Colony, OK 73021
Remembering Bob & Oleta Carmack
Perhaps adding to your memory bank will be better than the cash gift.
Bob & Oleta Carmack came to Hinton when Patricia, Steve, and Sam were youngsters. They lived in the house next door to C.A. and Sue Hampton. They bought their groceries on credit at Hampton’s IGA. So, it was that in their Hinton lives theirs were intertwined with mine. When they came to Hinton, the Carmacks continued to have some land at Gould. I remember that Bob and Oleta were hard workers endeavoring to get ahead. Fairly soon after they moved to the Thompson house Oleta shared with me that she and Bob had taken on the support of two missionaries. They were doing this by faith. I remember Oleta coming home from taking care of the Gould land wearing overalls, and they were not the designer kind!
Oleta had a heart for the poor folks in the community. She helped people, in particular, who wanted to help themselves. But this particular desire to help the ambitious did not prevent her from helping those who didn’t desire to rise about their situation in life.
Your grandmother did not like to shop for clothes. Ic are to believe she thought she had better ways to spend her time. But she and Bob loved to shop for things for Christmas for their family and shortly before Christmas each year they did exactly that!
After Paul Hampton, my first husband, left Hinton for seminary and then the preaching field, we often visited with Bob & Oleta. They both had warm hearts for workers in God’s service. Those were blessed times for us!
When I went to Scott & White [Hospital] to have a kidney removed, we stopped in Waco to take Bob medicine he had forgotten. Bob and Oleta took us out to eat and Bob prayed for me and my recovery.
I was grieved to hear of Bob’s serious illness before he passed away and I went to see Oleta. She insisted that I come in to see Bob. He was in his big chair in the corner of his big bedroom. The spiritual giant looked small, but I knew that the soul was strong within him.
Before your grandmother became seriously ill, she and I visited at length mostly about our families. That was my last visit with her. After her surgery I really didn’t know how to help her. I sang “Amazing Grace” to her and tears trickled down her cheeks.
I have known you from the time you were in your mother’s womb. I knew of you when you were conceived in love. I write to encourage you in your walk through life. You have a legacy to hold dear.
Thanks for the picture and sending the announcement.
I remember one Sunday when Bob became burdened for a farmer east of town and he went to the man and led him to the Lord.
The faith of Bob & Oleta was a large part of building the Hinton Baptist sanctuary. I encourage you to emulate the faith that is in your parents, Steve and Paula, and in your grandparents Bob & Oleta.
Congratulations.
Opal
