Esh, Virginia May Smucker (1921-2005)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2006 Jan 30 p. 8

Birth date: 1921 May 4

text of obituary:

VIRGINIA ESH

Virginia May Smucker Esh, 84, of Columbus, Ohio, died Dec. 22, 2005, at Thurber Village Care Center. She was born May 4, 1921, to Clarence Smucker and Clara Martin Smucker in Orrville.

She grew up attending Orrville Mennonite Church. She graduated from Orrville High School and went on to Goshen (Ind.) College, where she received a teaching certificate. She returned to Orrville to teach grade school.

She married Glenn Esh in 1943. They made their home in Lancaster County, Pa., where he was the pastor of Monterey Mennonite Church. In 1965, they moved to Columbus, and she began what would become a 40-year involvement with the community and life of Columbus Mennonite Church, formerly Neil Avenue Mennonite Church. When the marriage ended, she returned to school and earned a certificate in occupational therapy. She worked in this field at Ohio State University Hospital until her retirement.

She thoroughly enjoyed travel and took several international Elderhostel trips during her retirement years. Her volunteer work over the past 20 years included, but was not limited to, public school libraries, literacy council, teaching English as a second language, Ten Thousand Villages at Global Gallery and Columbus Mennonite Church.

Survivors include three children, Samuel Esh, Ellen Wiseman and Steven Esh; two sisters, Pauline Dulaney and Julia Penner; a brother, Robert Smucker; and five grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Smucker; a sister, Carol Powell; a son, Jonathan Esh; and a granddaughter, Elizabeth Esh.

A memorial service was held at Columbus Mennonite Church.