Patricia A. Oplinger, 88, of Northampton, died Jan. 4, 2025, at Sacred Heart Senior Living in Northampton. She was the wife of Jim Oplinger.

She graduated from Northampton High School in 1954. She earned a bachelor’s degree in music education at West Chester State College in 1958. She later earned a Master of Education degree at Marywood College, Scranton, in 1986.

She taught music education and fifth grade in Northampton Area School District, then taught fourth grade in Wayne Highlands School District in Honesdale until her retirement in 1996.

After retiring, she relocated to Cherokee Village, Ark., where she enjoyed church activities and writing poetry and short publications until moving back to the Lehigh Valley in 2020.

She sang in her church and community choirs throughout her life and published seven “coffee table” poetry books.

She was one of the original founders of the “Storybook Project” in Arkansas, a prison ministry program which used children’s books to maintain the connection between incarcerated women and their children in the community. She was voted Educator of the Year in 2004 for her work on this project.

She is survived by a daughter, Nancy DeJesus of Washington, N.J.; a son, James of Lititz; grandsons, Todd Walter of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Connor of Philadelphia and Carson of Lititz; two granddaughters, Courtney Walter of Myrtle Beach, S.C., and Elizabeth Barrett of Columbia, S.C.; and two great-granddaughters: Madeline and Sophia, both of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

She was predeceased by two daughters, Carol Jane Barrett and Sandra Walter.

Arrangements were made by Schisler Funeral Home Inc., Northampton.