Obituary for Esther Ann Marshall (Wood)
A Memorial service for Esther Marshall will be held 10:30am, Saturday, January 28, 2023 at the Golden Oaks Chapel. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to Gospel Fellowship Presbyterian Church, for the Christian Rec Program (CRP), 161 McFann Rd., Valencia, PA 16059. https://www.gospelfellowshippca.org/crp.
Esther Ann (Wood) Marshall was born to John R. and Ethel L. (Scherich) Wood, on March 16th, 1937. She went home to be with her Savior, Jesus, on January 21st, 2023. She was 85. Esther was born in Claysville, Washington County, in southwestern Pennsylvania. She was the youngest daughter of four girls. She did her chores on the family dairy farm, but still found time to be lovingly irritating to her sisters Jane (Wood) Eckert Richards, Theo (Wood) Zalaznik, and Dory (Wood) Heinlein, who all preceded her in death. She discovered at a young age she had a natural talent for playing the piano. She played for the church, for school recitals, theater productions, and the spring May Day events. Upon graduating from Hickory High School in 1955, she began her life-long love of education at Indiana State Teacher’s College (now Indiana University of PA) in Indiana, PA. While in college, she met Clark Marshall, also an Education Major. That was the beginning of a 68-year romance. They were married on May 24th, 1958. Esther’s new husband, now an Army 2nd Lieutenant, was immediately sent to Germany, leaving Esther to finish her last year of college. Soon after graduating from college in May 1959, she boarded a passenger ship to set sail for Germany to join her husband. In those first years overseas, she found a love for traveling and exploring new lands, something that she would pass on to her family. Over the years, she would go on to visit and discover the wonders of nearly 30 different countries. Esther would tell you her absolute favorite place to visit was the mountains around Garmish, Germany. Her oldest son, John Clark Marshall, was born in May 1960, while she and Clark were stationed in Germany. In 1962, while stationed in Texas, Esther gave birth to her second son, David Bradley Marshall. After Clark’s separation from the service, Esther began her 32-year teaching career. She was a naturally creative and encouraging teacher, who demonstrated what a positive and forward-looking attitude could achieve. She loved her students, and they reciprocated in-kind. In 1970, Esther and Clark, longing for more adventures, moved to Europe to continue their teaching careers at the military base at SHAPE (near Mons), Belgium. Esther taught every grade from 1st through 5th during her 27 years teaching at the American elementary school. She would tell you that First Grade was her favorite! Esther was also deeply involved in the Base Chapel where she played organ and piano, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and at various times was the leader of the chapel Youth and Teen Groups, and the Women of the Chapel. She was a Den Mother for the Cub Scout Pack. She organized trips for classes to go to the mountains and to the ocean. For many years, she was the sponsor of the high school cheerleaders. Her family would rise up and call her blessed over and over again, as she opened her home to friends and strangers. While in Europe, she honed her tour guide-like skills of planning family camping vacations. She learned how to navigate through Europe on a tight budget. In 1999, Esther retired from teaching, and moved with Clark back to the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. There she continued serving in her church, where she taught Sunday School, was the organist for fourteen years, and was the children’s Sunday School music leader and piano player. Additionally, she loving cared for her 103-year-old mother-in-law, Gertie, until her death. Esther fiercely loved her family, immediate and extended. She loved pre-planned and impromptu family gatherings. She was known to travel hours to enjoy a short visit with a relative passing by. She was quick to break out into a song at any time, display a sweet smile to show her joy, or erupt in a gut-busting laugh in response to a good joke. In 2016, as age, and the millions of miles traveled began to catch up with them, she and Clark moved to Enid, Oklahoma, to be near family. There she lived in the Christian Retirement Community of Golden Oaks, living her extraordinary life, as she was able, until her death. Esther Marshall is survived by her husband Clark Marshall, her two sons, John (Gracia) Marshall, Dave (Bel) Marshall, six grandchildren, Aubrey Marshall, Kendall Marshall, Josiah (Madeline) Marshall, Geoff (Amy) Ford, Alan (Kaci) Ford, and Nathan Marshall, and is blessed to have seven living great-grandchildren, Jacob, Rylee, Aurora, Jonathan, Dallas, Nora, and Hazel. Esther was greeted in heaven by her other two great grandchildren, Reese and Heston, who predeceased her.
Condolences to the family may be made at ladusauevans.com.
Esther Ann (Wood) Marshall was born to John R. and Ethel L. (Scherich) Wood, on March 16th, 1937. She went home to be with her Savior, Jesus, on January 21st, 2023. She was 85. Esther was born in Claysville, Washington County, in southwestern Pennsylvania. She was the youngest daughter of four girls. She did her chores on the family dairy farm, but still found time to be lovingly irritating to her sisters Jane (Wood) Eckert Richards, Theo (Wood) Zalaznik, and Dory (Wood) Heinlein, who all preceded her in death. She discovered at a young age she had a natural talent for playing the piano. She played for the church, for school recitals, theater productions, and the spring May Day events. Upon graduating from Hickory High School in 1955, she began her life-long love of education at Indiana State Teacher’s College (now Indiana University of PA) in Indiana, PA. While in college, she met Clark Marshall, also an Education Major. That was the beginning of a 68-year romance. They were married on May 24th, 1958. Esther’s new husband, now an Army 2nd Lieutenant, was immediately sent to Germany, leaving Esther to finish her last year of college. Soon after graduating from college in May 1959, she boarded a passenger ship to set sail for Germany to join her husband. In those first years overseas, she found a love for traveling and exploring new lands, something that she would pass on to her family. Over the years, she would go on to visit and discover the wonders of nearly 30 different countries. Esther would tell you her absolute favorite place to visit was the mountains around Garmish, Germany. Her oldest son, John Clark Marshall, was born in May 1960, while she and Clark were stationed in Germany. In 1962, while stationed in Texas, Esther gave birth to her second son, David Bradley Marshall. After Clark’s separation from the service, Esther began her 32-year teaching career. She was a naturally creative and encouraging teacher, who demonstrated what a positive and forward-looking attitude could achieve. She loved her students, and they reciprocated in-kind. In 1970, Esther and Clark, longing for more adventures, moved to Europe to continue their teaching careers at the military base at SHAPE (near Mons), Belgium. Esther taught every grade from 1st through 5th during her 27 years teaching at the American elementary school. She would tell you that First Grade was her favorite! Esther was also deeply involved in the Base Chapel where she played organ and piano, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and at various times was the leader of the chapel Youth and Teen Groups, and the Women of the Chapel. She was a Den Mother for the Cub Scout Pack. She organized trips for classes to go to the mountains and to the ocean. For many years, she was the sponsor of the high school cheerleaders. Her family would rise up and call her blessed over and over again, as she opened her home to friends and strangers. While in Europe, she honed her tour guide-like skills of planning family camping vacations. She learned how to navigate through Europe on a tight budget. In 1999, Esther retired from teaching, and moved with Clark back to the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania. There she continued serving in her church, where she taught Sunday School, was the organist for fourteen years, and was the children’s Sunday School music leader and piano player. Additionally, she loving cared for her 103-year-old mother-in-law, Gertie, until her death. Esther fiercely loved her family, immediate and extended. She loved pre-planned and impromptu family gatherings. She was known to travel hours to enjoy a short visit with a relative passing by. She was quick to break out into a song at any time, display a sweet smile to show her joy, or erupt in a gut-busting laugh in response to a good joke. In 2016, as age, and the millions of miles traveled began to catch up with them, she and Clark moved to Enid, Oklahoma, to be near family. There she lived in the Christian Retirement Community of Golden Oaks, living her extraordinary life, as she was able, until her death. Esther Marshall is survived by her husband Clark Marshall, her two sons, John (Gracia) Marshall, Dave (Bel) Marshall, six grandchildren, Aubrey Marshall, Kendall Marshall, Josiah (Madeline) Marshall, Geoff (Amy) Ford, Alan (Kaci) Ford, and Nathan Marshall, and is blessed to have seven living great-grandchildren, Jacob, Rylee, Aurora, Jonathan, Dallas, Nora, and Hazel. Esther was greeted in heaven by her other two great grandchildren, Reese and Heston, who predeceased her.
Condolences to the family may be made at ladusauevans.com.