Esther D. Curtis

Esther D. Curtis, age 95, passed away Friday, February 25, 2022. She was born on April 30, 1926 to German immigrants, Emil and Dora (Stueven) Lucht. Along with brothers Gordon, Calvin, and Ray, she grew up on their farm in Grand Island, Nebraska.

She is missed by her children - Don (Steve Winters) Curtis of Palm Springs, CA, Diane (Charles McDonald) Curtis of Winnetka, IL, Donna Curtis (John Bush) Bush of Davenport, IA and daughter-in-law Wendy Kick (the late David Curtis) Curtis of Island Lake, IL. She is dearly missed by 9 grandchildren - Charlene Curtis (Stuart Swanson) Swanson, Jeff Curtis; Brian, Laura, and Jane McDonald; Ryan, Connor, Sean, and Caroline Bush - plus great-grandson Indiana Swanson. Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Dale, and her dear son, David.

Esther graduated from Grand Island High School. In 1941, at 15, she was the Queen of May at the annual Maypole Festival. She completed a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics at University of Nebraska in 1948. A lifelong swimmer, Esther was a member of the university’s synchronized swim team, Aquaquettes. She also met, and dated, young Dale. Following graduation, they married on August 15, 1948, and struck out for Pasadena, CA, where they lived for two years.

As Dale was promoted, there were subsequent moves throughout the midwest, to St. Louis (twice), Memphis, Dallas, New Orleans, and Kansas City (twice). The couple settled permanently in Ohio - first in Salem, and subsequently, Upper Arlington for nearly 5 decades.

Esther worked in a variety of jobs in addition to managing their household. She was a dietitian for the Southern CA Gas. She managed daycare in Kansas City. She taught special-ed perception in public school, in Salem. And, in Columbus, she returned to professional cooking at Borden Food Company.

Dale and Esther were long-time members of Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Upper Arlington (Esther was a member for 48 years). Esther served terms as Deaconess, Elder and Stephens Minister. She participated in the Bell Choir, as well as church events.

Esther was an enthusiastic bridge player and a long-time gourmet club member. Her pies were the best in the Land. She was an avid member of an investment club. This led to a New York Times’s interview, and Esther’s front page quote in an article about market volatility: “Panic is for the Other Guy” (October 28, 1997). When the reporter asked her age, she demurred, saying, “retired”.

Esther cherished time spent with her grandchildren. At family get-togethers she loved playing games-especially Bananagrams, Yahtzee, charades - and participating in gingerbread house building competitions.

Family will receive friends from 5pm - 7pm on Friday, April 29, 2022 at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST, 1740 Zollinger Road, Upper Arlington, Ohio. A Memorial Service will be held the following day, Saturday, April 30 at 3 p.m. at the Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2070 Ridgecliff Road, Columbus, Ohio, 43221.

Memorial contributions may be made to: Covenant Presbyterian Church [2070 Ridgecliff Rd., Upper Arlington, OH], Nationwide Children’s Hospital [Columbus, OH], NSSRA Foundation, ELA Program [1221 County Line Rd., Highland Park, IL 60035] or Habitat For Humanity. Esther’s obituary photo was taken on December 25, 2021.