Andy Griffith Show experts - was it ever disclosed what happened to Opie's mom? - I am assuming she died.

In the pilot episode, Andy tells Opie, "I lost your mom when you was just the least little speck of a baby."

So maybe she died giving birth.

All we were ever told is that she died and that was told us on the pilot for "The Andy Griffith Show" which appeared on "The Danny Thomas Show". Opie's pet turtle, Wilford, was stepped on and killed by "Mrs. Balford" out in front of the ice cream parlor and he wants Andy to arrest her for 'murder', give her a fair trial and "hang her." Andy tries to help Opie deal with the loss by talking about how it was when Opie's 'ma' died. Opie looks to Andy and says, "Who stepped on Ma?" That was the only time Andy's first wife was mentioned. Besides the pilot, she is also mentioned in "Wedding Bells for Aunt Bee." Opie asks Andy, "Did you and Ma have that kind of love?" Andy replies, "Yes, son, we did."

Andy was a widowerer. I think she died having Opie or shortly after.

i have seen every episode at least 10 times each. i watched it when i was a kid, so did my kids. it was never in any of the episodes. i just assumed he was a widower.