Esther Wolfenbarger Lewis

Esther was born May 12, 1922 in Minot, North Dakota, where she was raised and graduated from high school. Shortly after graduation she attended Regina Bible College in Regina Saskatchewan, Canada from 1940 -1941. When her family moved to Oregon she transferred to Multnomah School of the Bible in Portland.

She worked part time in a Bible Book Store in Portland where she met Gladys Wolfenbarger, who introduced Esther to her brother Vern who lived in Olympia, Washington. Esther and Vern started dating and got married November 17, 1946. In 1948 she had a son Jack and a daughter Jane, then six years later another son Russell in 1954.

She was very active in her church. She was a Sunday School teacher, BYF (Baptist Youth Fellowship) leader, nursery worker, and was always helping out in the kitchen. She was involved in women's circle groups, and women's ministries.

Esther worked for the state for several years, then became a federal government employee working for Veteran Affairs. She retired in 1984. Esther and Vern did several cruises and trips to Palm Springs during their retirement years.

Vern passed away in 2001. For the next couple years she had Vern's sister Dot and her husband live with her while she helped take care of them. When she could no longer take care of them, they moved into care facilities. Soon after, she started dating a gentleman (John Lewis) from the church she had attended for more than 40 years who lost his spouse. They had known each other for years and the couples had socialized together when their spouses were alive. They married January 3, 2003.

John Lewis passed away in July of 2013. Soon after, Esther's memory loss was severe enough to require that she be placed in a memory care facility, where she spent the rest of her life. At first she was able to be quite active in their activities, but as her memory and health deteriorated, she was forced to be wheel chair bound and unable to participate in many of the activities.

She is now walking again and pain free and enjoying the presence of our Heavenly Father.