Hershberger, Esta Miller (1922-2008)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2008 Mar 31 p. 9

Birth date: 1922 May 24

text of obituary:

ESTA HERSHBERGER

Esta (Miller) Hershberger, 85, of Bird-in-Hand, Pa., formerly of Walnut Creek, Ohio, died March 5, 2008. She was born May 24, 1922, to Jacob M. and Drusilla Keim Miller near Winesburg, Ohio.

She grew up on a farm east of Walnut Creek. She married Simon D. Hershberger in Kalispell, Mont., during his years of alternative service in Glacier National Park. They celebrated 62 years of marriage on Dec. 22.

She was a homemaker, known for her fine quilting stitches, custard pies and cinnamon rolls. Many guests enjoyed her delicious meals, and she was a caring neighbor and friend. She was a member of Walnut Creek Mennonite Church and an associate member of Stumptown Mennonite Church in Bird-in-Hand and Sunnyslope Mennonite Church in Phoenix, Ariz., where she and her husband spent 20 winters. She participated in the sewing circles of all three churches. In 1975, she and Simon served in Buckeye, Ariz., in voluntary service, and she also volunteered at Ten Thousand Villages.

A devoted mother and member of a close-knit extended family, she loved her family dearly and spent much of her life caring for them.

Survivors include her husband, Simon; two daughters Joanne Yoder and her husband, Steve, of Glendale, Ariz., and Myrna Smucker and her husband, John, of Bird-in-Hand; a brother, Joe J. Miller, and a brother-in-law, Moses A. Kaufman, both of Sugarcreek, Ohio; and six grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by an infant son, Jonas; and a sister, Mary (Miller) Kaufman.

Services were held at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church. Burial was in Walnut Creek Mennonite Cemetery.