Esch, Barbara Naomi Zehr (1910-1955)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1955 Oct 20 p. 8

Birth date: 1910 Jan 23

text of obituary:

BARBARA NAOMI ESCH

Barbara Naomi Esch, only daughter of Michael S. and Anna Zehr, was born near Pigeon, Mich. Jan. 23, 1910. She passed away at her home near Phoenix, Arizona Sept 10, 1955, aged 45 years, seven months and 17 days.

At the age of 13 she accepted Christ as her personal Saviour and became a member of the Pigeon River Mennonite Congregation. She attended school in her home community to the second year in high school. After three years at Eastern Mennonite College and one year at Central State Teachers College at Mt. Pleasant, Mich., she taught school for two years.

She was married to Jacob D. Esch by her father Bishop M. S. Zehr on June 26, 1932. Following their marriaqe they made their home on a fam near Pigeon. After the death of her mother in 1941, she provided a home for her father with them. Since she was the only child, her father was very close to her and his death, which occurred away from home in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1944, was a blow from which she never fully recovered.

She is survived by her husband, Jacob D. Esch, and their six children, Keith and Joan, both attending college at Harrisonburg, Va., and Barbara Joyce, Janet, Clair and Ruth at home, and a foster sister, Mrs. Verna Dietzel, of Pigeon, Mich. One week before her death son Keith was married to Virginia Weaver at Johnstown, Pa. She had a sincere desire to see her new daughter and her last extended audible prayer was for them on the evening they were united in marriage.

Mother suffered the limitations of a very delicate heart condition ever since she had rheumatic fever more than six years ago. This brought the family to Arizona in the late summer of 1951 in quest of a more suitable climate for her health. During the last year and a half she was confined to her bed most of the time.

Her motherly concern was definitely a spiritual one for her children to live the Biblical Christian life of simplicity with loyalty to the church. She was not without faults and many times, especially during this time of affliction there were times of conflicts and discouragements, as she felt she had accomplished so little. Yet through it all there were many lessons in patience and forgiveness, in Scripture meditation and prayer.

She took a keen interest in the progress and work of the various church-wide organizations. She enjoyed to have the church periodicals read to her, which she was not able to do for herself very often. The almost weekly visits of her pastor and wife, Bro. and Sister Melvin Ruth, were looked forward to with expectation for spiritual refreshment. Her last two communion services were conducted for her in her own room. She expressed her longing for a deeper, richer, experience in Christ, a desire for a higher plane of living. She longed to see more love for the other in the home as well as in the church.

In the last week before her death, one early morning with a happy countenance she requested to be laid to rest with her parents and maternal grandparents in the church cemetery at the Pigeon River Church. Her hope of the resurrection — as she expressed it, “On resurrection morning we will be there to be caught up together” — was a source of joy and consolation to her as well as to those left behind, who sorrow not without hope. Her physical suffering was intense during the last two days of her life. Her last words, “O yes! yes,” were spoken clearly and earnestly a few minutes before her passing. May God receive all the honor and praise for his mercy and lovingkindness.

Services were held at the Sunnyslope Mennonite Church on Sunday evening, Sept. 11, Bro. Melvin Ruth in charge assisted by Johnwilliam Boyer. The body was then taken by train to Pigeon, Mich. The funeral services, in charge of Emanuel Swartzendruber assisted by Earl Maust, were held at the Pigeon River Church on Sept. 16. Burial was made in the adjoining cemetery.