Esther Mae Kornman

Esther Mae Kornman was born on February 28, 1922, to Reverend James A. and Clara Fry Hutchins in O’Neill, Nebraska. Being the daughter of a Methodist minister, she moved often and attended schools in several Nebraska towns. She graduated in 1939 from Burchard High School 2nd in her class. She found math and science to be her favorite subjects. She grew up learning to play the violin, the piano, and the trumpet.

Esther attended Nebraska Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Nebraska until her 21st birthday in 1943 when she found herself headed to Navy boot camp in New York. From there she was transferred to Oxford, Ohio for Morse code training. That’s where she met Edward Kornman. During WWII, she worked for a time in the Underwater Sound Lab at Harvard University and in communications using Morse code as a Navy Wave stationed at Treasure Island, San Francisco. There on Christmas Day, 1943, she married Ed Kornman of Cincinnati, OH. Their marriage was blessed as they spent 66 wonderful years together. Esther finally earned her degree at Nebraska Wesleyan University after transferring her class credits from Miami U. in Oxford, Ohio, where she and Ed lived after the war. Ed and Esther spent forty years living in Wilmington, OH. Esther raised her children there. She enjoyed 22 of those years teaching elementary school. She was also active in the Methodist Church. After her retirement from teaching, she volunteered at the hospital and delivered Meals On Wheels. And she always planned several weeks of family trips each summer “trailer traveling” throughout the U.S. With Ed, she also took several trips overseas. Exploring Russia and the Holy Lands were her favorites. In 1990 Esther and Ed moved to Marco Island, FL. Esther continued to be active in church, in clubs and tutored students in elementary school. Ed and Esther’s 50th wedding anniversary was celebrated on Marco. While living there they spent many evenings sitting on Marco’s beach watching the sun sink into the water.

In 2001 they moved to Grants Pass, OR. where their daughter, Barbara Paulson, resided. Here they found a lovely new church family at the Newman United Methodist Church. They delivered Meals On Wheels for several years. Their interest in RVing was renewed and they continued to do extensive traveling. Before Ed’s death in 2010, he and Esther celebrated their 66th year together. Esther continued to live at what is now called The Cascades, a retirement home in Grants Pass, until 2014 when the urge to move struck again. She bought a house in Camdenton, MO. where she was joined by her sister for an exciting year of getting to know her Hutchins side of the family again. Due to her health, she moved back to the Cascades in 2015.

Esther’s greatest joy has always been sharing experiences with her large family. In 2012 for her 90th birthday, she treated her children and spouses to a Caribbean cruise. She still worked to remember the birthdays of her 4 children, 8 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren and send them cards with treats when possible. After an early 100th birthday celebration with the Hutchins family in Missouri, she then on February 28, 2022, celebrated her 100th birthday with family and friends at a luncheon party in the Evergreen room at Taprock in Grants Pass. Her four children and their spouses hosted the event. Esther’s final months were spent under the gracious care of Traci Evans and staff at Family Flair Adult Foster Care. She is survived by Theda Denney (Bill) of Reno, Barbara Paulson (Keith Clement) of Grants Pass, Janet Swindler (Craig) of NC, and Jim Kornman, from Florida, eight grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, a sister, Alice, of MO, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial remembrance service will be held at a future date.