Christine Opal Driver Alden

Christine “Chris” Opal Driver Alden, 86, passed away on January 29, 2013 at Charlton Methodist Hospital. A service celebrating her life will be held at 2pm Saturday, February 2nd at Hamil Family Funeral Home in Abilene, Texas. The family will be available to receive friends one hour prior to the service. Chris was born on a farm near Claytonville, Texas on October 20, 1926 to Ab and Elsie Driver. She was a hardworking farm girl. She did her chores and was taught to “do the best she could at work, be honest and always give good effort and hours at work.” She and her sister Arline moved to Abilene after high school graduation to attend Draughn’s Business College. She met Jimmy Spann and they married on December 6, 1947. They had two children, Verda and Jimmy Jr. Her husband Jimmy was an Abilene police officer who was shot while on duty and died June 17, 1954. His name is engraved on the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. After Jimmy’s death she returned to Business College where she met Coy Preslar. Coy was a prisoner of war veteran who spent 4 years in a Japanese prisoner of war camp. He was a member of the “Lost Batallion.” Chris and Coy were married in 1955 and moved to Aspermont, Texas where Coy worked for Skelly Oil Company. They had a son, Coy “Lynn” Preslar. They later moved to Monahans and finally to San Angelo,Texas. Chris worked for Levi Strauss for over 27 years. Coy died in 1977. On June 21, 1983, Chris married Elder Irvin Alden, a Baptist preacher and piano tuner. They lived in San Angelo until 2011 when they moved to Grand Prairie to be closer to relatives. They were about to celebrate their 30th anniversary when she passed away. Chris was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Lura Dintsch of Chattanooga, Tennessee, Jo Hook of Trent, Texas, Arline Andes of Andrews,Texas and her brother Leland Driver of Temecula, California. Survivors include her husband Elder, daughter Verda and husband, Tom Shine of Duncanville, sons, Jimmy Spann of Austin and Lynn Preslar of San Angelo; step-sons, Daniel Alden of Austin and Mark Alden of South Padre Island and grandchildren, Jessica Spann of Austin, Lindsey Shine Lawrence and husband Matt of Dallas, Jonathan Shine of Denton, and Nick Shine and wife Amy of Allen.