Esther Barco Pantano

A proud 1962 graduate of Robert E. Lee High School, Esther spent several years in the Northwest before returning to her Florida roots in 1976. Her creative spirit was recognized early on when her poem, "Our American, Our Children," won first place in Washington State through the Spokane Junior Women’s Club. Locally, she was a dedicated member of the Orange Park Woman’s Club, the Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary, and the Orange Park Debutante Society.

Esther lived life with a vibrant energy and a deep love for the outdoors, whether she was hiking, fishing, swimming, or camping in new places. She found great joy in writing poetry, clogging, cooking, shopping, and playing bunco with her close friends. Many will remember her time working at Tuesday Morning—where she jokingly admitted her paycheck often returned home as merchandise—and her years at Barco-Duval Engineering, where she was affectionately known to everyone as "Aunt Esther." She loved her family and was always there with a warm smile, listening ear, and a quiet way of making everyone feel cared for.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roland Pantano, and her son, Timothy Blankenship. Her memory lives on through her daughter, Teresa (Dean) Kelley; her son, Seth (Cathy) Blankenship; her grandsons, Tim and Tyler Blankenship; her great-granddaughter, Meadow Blankenship; her stepchildren, Michael (Darcy) Pantano and Bob (Kathy) Pantano; and her many beloved nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be held 10 AM, Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL. We invite you to share your words of comfort and memories at www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com (https://www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com).

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Esther's memory to Haven Hospice (Orange Park) at https://havenhospice.com/donate