Pearl Esther Wentz

Esther Wentz, 87, of Tumwater, Washington, passed away peacefully on Friday, 16 June 2023 in Olympia, Washington. Esther was born on 8 June 1936 in Seattle, Washington, daughter of O.C. Henry and Gertrude B Lohrengel. In 1940, she moved to a 200-acre farm in Ellensburg, Washington with her family. Living there she gained a love for the outdoors and farming. They moved to Pasadena, California in her teen years. She graduated from Pasadena Academy and attended Pasadena College.

Esther met Warren Henry Wentz when purchasing parts for her car. They fell in love and were married on 21 October 1959 in a simple ceremony in Pasadena. They had two beautiful daughters, Luana Michele and Sandra Jean, while living in Pasadena. They moved to Olympia, Washington in 1963, where Esther lived for 60 years. Esther loved tools and fixing things and started a small engine repair business when her children were young. She was a whiz at repairing everything from lawnmowers to motorcycle engines.

As her children grew older, Esther decided to return to school at Evergreen State College and take courses. She later became a licensed massage therapist. This profession gave her great joy in helping to relieve others of their pain and discomfort.

Esther loved to sing. From her earliest recollections, she found peace and a way to serve through song. She was often asked to sing at church functions and in the community. She directed a children’s choir when her children were young. In the 1990s and early 2000s, she was part of a singing trio with her good friends Marge Gubbe and Beulah Turner.

Her Christian faith was a constant in her life and guided her every decision. Even when diagnosed with incurable cancer, she knew that she would soon see family and friends that had passed.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband, Warren in 1997; Parents, O.C. and Gertrude; sister, O’Celia June O’Bannon and brothers, David Henry, of Palm Springs, California, and Robert P Henry of Santa Maria, California. Esther is survived by her two daughters, Luana Darby, West Jordan, Utah, and Sandra Jean Wells, San Diego, California; seven grandchildren, Rebecca Kobel, Steven Wells, Dayson Darby, Alyson Kelly , Aimee Darby, Ryan Darby, and Brooke “Archer” Wells. Esther will be cremated, and memorial services will be held on 28 August 2023 in Olympia, Washington. She will be interred at Mills & Mills Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Tumwater, Washington beside her husband and beloved mother, Gertrude Henry.

Her favorite scripture, John 14:1-6 TLB

Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me.

There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there.”

“No, we don’t,” Thomas said. “We haven’t any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus told him, “I am the Way—yes, and the Truth and the Life. No one can get to the Father except by means of me.”