Opal Eloise Binks

(Another picture of Opal can be found in Anna Evelyn Binks scrap book)

(For Opal's early life, see biography of her father, Alfred John Binks)

Opal (known sometimes as Patricia or 'Pat') was born on October 30, 1904 in Del Rio, Texas, U.S.A.

She spent 1909-1918 in Australia, and after the death of their father, Alfred John Binks (in 1913) she and her sisters spent the rest of their time in Australia in an orphanage until safe transit could be arranged for them to return to the USA after WW1.

The story goes that Anna Evelyn wrote, explaining the predicament, to their Aunt Sarah (Boswell) in Fort Worth. As the Boswell family were quite well known in that state, the letter found it's way without a complete address.

On March 2, 1918, the girls set sail on HMS Katoomba from East Fremantle, Australia. On March 6, 1918 they arrived at 12:30pm in Adelaide where they were met by cousins Mr & Mrs Cecil H. Walters (Christiana Jubilee Binks) who lived at Rose Park in Adelaide. Other cousins were also there.

On March 7, 1918 they departed Adelaide at 4pm on HMS Katoomba arriving in Melbourne, Australia on March 9th. They continued to Sydney and boarded the ship, 'Samona' arriving in San Fransico, USA on April 1, 1918. By June 8, 1918 they were living with their Grandmother (Boswell) in Fort Worth, Texas.

Opal may have resided in Winterhaven, Florida for some time.

She never married but having studied Law, she passed the 'Texas Bar' and became a licensed attorney. She joined a law firm, but continued legal stenographic work, probably rarely actually practicing Law. We do know that she lost her first case. According to her death certificate however, she had been a self-employed lawyer for 50 years.

Opal was to suffer from mental health problems for much of her life spending 30 years in a Texas institution.

She spent her last years living in Los Osos, California and died on March 31, 1988 at Cabrillo Care Center, 3033 Augusta Street, San Luis Obispo, California, U.S.A.