Esther Kirchner

Esther V. Kirchner, 87, of Woodbine entered Eternal Rest, surrounded by her family, Monday, August 3rd, 2015, at the home of her daughter.

Born August 10, 1927, in Wheeling, West Virginia she was the daughter of the late Frederick Henry Schultz, Sr. and Grace Pearl Prettyman Schultz.

She was the wife, for 62 years, of the late Vincent E. Kirchner, who predeceased her October 3, 2013.

Esther graduated from Tridelphia High School in Wheeling, WV.  She enjoyed attending several of her class reunions. Before she was married, Esther worked for Wheeling Dollar Bank and Martin Marietta Corporation.  She was a Class of 1970 graduate of Springfield State Hospitals where she obtained a LPN and remained employed for 27 years.  After retirement she enjoyed caring for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  In 1995, she began volunteering in the school office of St. John Catholic School in Westminster helping out wherever she was needed.

Esther enjoyed her job at St. John's and was very fond of the students as well as all of her co-workers to the point of teaching the girls in the office her famous “Alabama Shuffle.”  She continued volunteering there for 12 years until her husband’s health declined and she stayed at home to care for him.

Esther was a member of St. Michael's Catholic Church in Poplar Springs, and was the First Lady of the Knights of Columbus Counsel #10525.  In her early years with St. Michael's she baked goods for the Ladies Auxiliary’s many events.  She was a Girl Scout leader, candy maker and enjoyed sewing and crocheting.  She also helped with the greenhouse when the planting season rolled around, but her special love was to work outside in the yard, planting flower beds, mowing, trimming, etc...

Surviving are son, Vincent Michael Kirchner and companion, Marilyn Long of Woodbine; daughters and sons-in-law, Paula Michele Kleiman and Arthur of Westminster and Beth Ann Nicholson and John M. of Mount Airy; grandchildren, Jennifer M. Bell and husband Edward of Gettysburg, PA, Jessica Lee Sartain, of Sykesville, Bryan Steven Buckingham of Sykesville and Stephanie L. Nicholson and fiance Tony Guerrasio of Owings Mills; great-grandchildren, Taylor E. and Madelyn Bell of Gettysburg, PA; brother, Edward D. and sister-in-law Ginger of Portsmouth, Va.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was pre-deceased by sisters, Roberta E. Swiger, Friedericka B. Marshall Fox and Helen B. Childers; and brothers, Albert C, Fred Henry, Jr., James F. William L. and Robert C. Schultz.

The family will receive friends 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday, August 6, 2015 at the Stauffer Funeral Home, 8 E. Ridgeville Boulevard, Mt. Airy.

Mass of Christian burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 7th at St. John’s Catholic Church, Westminster with Rev. Michael Ruane officiating.  Entombment will be at Evergreen Memorial Gardens, Finksburg.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Stauffer Funeral Home in Mt. Airy.  Online condolences may be made to the family at www.staufferfuneralhome.com.