Esther Ann Witherbee West

A small-town girl, Esther broke with many traditions, graduating from high school at the age of 16 and moving to Madison, where she received her B.A. in Spanish and continued studies in Psychology at the graduate level. Post-college years found her as a flight attendant for United Airlines, a teacher of radio mechanics, and finally as a Civil Servant, living in Guam, the Philippines and Okinawa. When her government job took her to Heidelberg, Germany, Esther became an accomplished equestrian, purchasing her first and only horse, ?Frauenjaeger?. It was also in Heidelberg that Esther met and married her husband of 38 years, A.W. (Pete) West. Pete and Esther were married in the Heidelberg Castle. A daughter, Julie Jacqueline, was born to Pete and Esther during their tour in France, after which they moved for  3 years to Kaiserslautern, German. The family of 3, plus dog, ?Sheata,? moved to Washington, D.C., then to Arizona, where son, Benji, was born. When Benji was 4, the family returned to Germany, remaining until Julie?s graduation from high school. Upon the family?s return to Arizona, Esther began a career in Real Estate and earned her broker?s license. Esther was a devoted and loving caregiver to Pete, and following his death in 1994, she enriched her sister?s last years by sharing travel to various regions of the world. She dabbled in painting and took creative writing courses. In response to news in 1996 that she was to become a ?NaNa,? Esther exclaimed, ?This is more wonderful then anything I could have imagined!? in fact, Julie and Benji share the conviction that having Esther was a mom was more wonderful than anything they could have imagined! Even son-in-law, Bill, was quickly adopted into Esther?s care, and she regularly referred to him as a ?saint.? Esther deeply and unconditionally loved her family. She will be profoundly missed by a host of special friends here and abroad and by ALL who love her. Hobbies & Gifts: Downhill skiing, entertaining, cooking, playing cards, listening to music, directing children?s choirs at church, writing, traveling and supporting her many charities.