Obituary

Esther Nafzger was born Dec. 6, 1908, in Port Arthur, Texas, the daughter of the Rev. H.C. Gaertner and his wife, Pauline Gaertner. Esther was the second of 10 children. Following her graduation from Lutheran College Academy in Clifton, Texas, in 1925, she taught school for four years at Salem Lutheran School in Malone, Texas, where her father was pastor. In 1933 she graduated from Providence School of Nursing in Waco, Texas, as a registered nurse. She was a member of the American Nurses Association and also was appointed as an American Red Cross nurse. In 1934 Esther accepted the position of instructor of nurses at the Dr. E.C. Nichols Hospital in Plainview, Texas, a position which she held until her marriage to Ralph A. Nafzger on Aug. 2, 1937. She and Ralph lived on a farm south of Olton until 1947, when they moved to Plainview, Texas, where they made their home for the next 50 years. Ralph and Esther were active members of St. Paul Lutheran Church where Esther served for many years as organist and Sunday school teacher. For the past 12 years Esther has been a resident of the Runningwater Draw Care Center in Olton, Texas. Ralph and Esther became the parents of five children: Samuel, Carroll Wayne, Sylvia, Larry and Ralph Jr. Preceding her in death were her husband of 64 years, who passed away in 2001, and two children, Sylvia and Ralph Jr. Celebrating her life and mourning her death are the Rev. Samuel Nafzger and wife, Janis, of Washington, Mo., Carroll Wayne and wife, Pat, of Chicago, and Larry of Plainview. Esther also leaves behind seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by one sister, Hulda Shaddock of Dallas, Texas. Funeral services for Esther Caroline (nee<0x2019> Gaertner) Nafzger, 99, will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church with the Rev. Gerald Boerger officiating. Burial will be in Plainview Memorial Park by Wood Dunning Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 5-6 p.m. today at the funeral home. \