Honoring a Beautiful Soul

07/03/1948 - 04/29/2025

The finest example of a mother, daughter, sister, wife and friend, Opal Ruth Rivas passed away on April 29, 2025. Born in Belzoni, Mississippi to Ruth Davis and David Millwood Sr., Opal would make a beautiful life for her family out of Bakersfield, California.

Known for her brilliant countenance and warm smile, Opal always wanted to be a mother and had the privilege of being a mom with husband Rodney to Michael Williams, Jennifer Williams (Angie) while being a doting grandmother to Kyra Williams & Caitlyn Haws.

Opal had a passion for discovery and learning, which lead to Anthropology, having completed her studies at Bakersfield College; while also developing her driving talent as a mud bog drag racer with her late husband Rubin and her youngest son, Jason Rivas.

While her career as a mud bog drag racer enabled her to travel throughout the US, Mexico and in Hawaii; one of her greatest accomplishments she would say, would be that of being a devoted sister to her closest siblings: David Millwood Jr (Sandy), Connie Lewallen (Carl), Lucinda Cravey, Peggy Ekstrom (Jonmichael), James Aydelotte (Kimber), Benny Aydelotte; while watching her beautiful nieces and nephews; Matthew Millwood, Billy Millwood (Georgia), Kelly Phillips (Mark), Donovan Millwood (Alisha), Bonnelle Ochesky (Steve), Ronda Beverage (Richard), Ike Hornsby Jr (Christy), Adam Hornsby, Marion Green, Jacob Aydelotte and Benny Aydelotte, grow their lives into something truly meaningful and individually fulfilling.  In addition to more than 20 Great Nephews and Great Nieces, Opal reveled in seeing these young people shape their lives and embrace all of the opportunities that came before them.

Her greatest accomplishments were not found on a race track or a company boardroom; they were her children, and those she helped to raise in her lifetime.

Lifelong racing friends that became family, Keith & Diane Jagels, David & Carleen Taylor, David & Verlaine Schneider, David & Krista Schneider, Paul & Heather Taylor, Terry Woodcock, Sam & Peggy Sturges, Bill & Karen Oliver, Bill & Kat White, Steve & Jill Quercio among so many others, shall always be near and dear to her.

Opal held close to heart her relationship with our Heavenly Father, as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it was her unwavering faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ that was a source of inspiration and encouragement.

Memorial Services are scheduled for May 14, 2025 at Mission Family Mortuary in Bakersfield, California from 9:00 to 11:00am with Graveside Services to follow at Hillcrest Memorial Park & Cemetery at 12:30pm.

John 13:34