Esther Louise Thurston1

F, #57005, b. 12 September 1914, d. 14 December 2007
  • Last Edited: 14 Dec 2018
  • Esther Louise Thurston was born on 12 September 1914, Trevorton, Northumberland County, PA.1
  • She was the daughter of Casper E. Thurston and Florence Viola Taylor.1
  • Esther Louise Thurston married Tolbert G. Wirt, son of James Edwin Wirt and Bertha E. Klinger, on 1 January 1938.2
  • Esther Louise Thurston died on 14 December 2007, at age 93.1
  • Newspaper obituary:
    ESTHER THURSTON WIRT
    NORTHUMBERLAND -- Esther Thurston Wirt, 93, a long time resident of Northumberland, passed away Friday, Dec. 14, 2007, at 1:15 a.m. at the Columbia Montour Home Hospice at Maria Hall in Danville where she had recently become a guest.
    A daughter of the late Casper and Florence (Tharp) Thurston, Esther was born Sept. 12, 1914, in Trevorton. On Jan. 1, 1938, she married Tolbert G. "Tab" Wirt, who preceded her in death on Jan. 13, 1997.
    Esther grew up and was educated in the Oddfellows Orphanage on Snydertown Road. She graduated in 1931 and received a full scholarship to Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, where she majored in music.
    For some time Esther traveled as a concert pianist and later settled in Sunbury working as the Phantom Pianist for radio station WKOK. (Listeners called their requests into the radio station, and Esther accommodated them with a live version of their favorite songs.)
    For some time she was employed by the State Unemployment Office in Harrisburg, commuting daily from Sunbury.
    After the birth of her daughter, Diane, Esther became a stay at home mother taking care of her family. She joined the work force again in 1960, and later became the business manager and secretary of the School Board for Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District.
    Esther retired from this position after 23 years of service at the age of 73. Esther was a very proud, hardworking and self-motivated woman.
    She was a member of the (PSER'S) Pennsylvania School Employees' Retirement Association. While her husband was a life member of Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Lodge 267, Sunbury, Esther proudly served the Ladies Auxiliary 268.
    She was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Philipsburg, where she served as their choir director for more than 25 years.
    Surviving are one daughter and loving son-in-law, Diane (Wirt) Miller and Steven J. Miller of Northumberland; five grandchildren, Jim and Nick Hansel, Luke Miller, Steve Miller Jr., and Lisa Lott; six great-grandchildren, Jacob, Katy, Alan, Sarah, Scott and Emily; a special nephew, Mick Thurston; and other nieces and nephews throughout the country.
    In addition to her husband and parents, Esther was preceded in death by one brother and
    five sisters.
    At the family's request services will be private at the Joseph W. Epier Funeral Home, 210 King St., Northumberland.
    Burial will follow in Northumberland Memorial Park, Stonington.
    Contributions in Esther's memory can be made to Columbia Montour Home Hospice, 410 Glenn Ave., Suite 200, Bloomsburg, PA 17815.
    The Daily Item (Sunbury, PA), December 15, 2007.3
  • She was buried at Northumberland Memorial Park, Stonington, Northumberland County, PA.3
  • Father*: Casper E. Thurston1 b. 22 Jan 1890, d. 15 Oct 1918
  • Mother*: Florence Viola Taylor1 b. 23 Jan 1890, d. 30 Jun 1937

Child of Esther Louise Thurston and Tolbert G. Wirt

  • Diane Wirt2

Citations

  1. [S1140] Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, online www.ancestry.com, , SSN:     165161747; https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll
  2. [S108] Newspaper Obituary, for Tolbert G. Wirt, The Daily Item (Sunbury, PA), 15 Jan 1997, Wed, Page 20.
  3. [S108] Newspaper Obituary, for Esther Thurston Wirt, The Daily Item (Sunbury, PA)m December 15, 2007.

Tolbert G. Wirt1

M, #57030, b. 22 January 1907, d. 13 January 1997
  • Last Edited: 21 Feb 2019
  • Tolbert G. Wirt was born on 22 January 1907, Herndon, Northumberland County, PA.1
  • He was the son of James Edwin Wirt and Bertha E. Klinger.2
  • Tolbert G. Wirt married Esther Louise Thurston, daughter of Casper E. Thurston and Florence Viola Taylor, on 1 January 1938.1
  • Tolbert G. Wirt died on 13 January 1997, Community Hospital, Sunbury, Northumberland County, PA, at age 89.1
  • Newspaper obituary:
    Tolbert G. Wirt, 89, RR1 Northumberland
    NORTHUMBERLAND Tolbert G. Wirt, 89, formerly of Sunbury and Philipsburg, died Monday evening, Jan. 13, 1997, at Sunbury Community Hospital, where he was admitted on Saturday.
    He was born Jan. 22, 1907, in Herndon, a son of the late Edwin and Bertha Wirt. He and his wife, the former Esther L. Thurston, celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on Jan. 1. Mr. Wirt attended the Sunbury schools. An Army veteran, he served during World War II. He retired from Westinghouse Electric, Metuchen, N.J. and later . worked for General Hardware Co., Philipsburg. ' Mr. Wirt was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Philipsburg, and was past president of the Methodist Men A life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge 267, and the Americus Hose Company, both of Sunbury, lie was a member of American ' Legion Post 201, Sunbury; and United Commercial Travelers. He was awarded Elk of the Year, 1986, by Philipsburg Elks Lodge 1173. An avid fisherman and member of Trout Unlimited, he was an activist for Clean Streams Act, a volunteer for the American Red Cross Bloodmobile and active in fund raising for cerebral palsy. . In addition to his wife, surviving are one daughter, Diane W. Miller of RR1 Northumberland; three grandchildren; two stepgrandchildren; one stepgreat-grandson; and one sister, Violet Conrad of Selinsgrove. He was preceded in death by one brother, Chauncey. The funeral will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Joseph W. Epler Funeral Home, Second and King streets', Northumberland, by the Rev. Jeff Wakeley. Burial will be iir' Northumberland Memorial Park,' Stonington. Visitors may call from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. at the funeral home, ' Contributions may be made to the Danville Child Development Center, P.O. Box 183, Danville, Pa. 17821.
    The Daily Item (Sunbury, PA), 15 Jan 1997, Wed, Page 20.1

Child of Tolbert G. Wirt and Esther Louise Thurston

  • Diane Wirt1

Citations

  1. [S108] Newspaper Obituary, for Tolbert G. Wirt, The Daily Item (Sunbury, PA), 15 Jan 1997, Wed, Page 20.
  2. [S199] 1910 Census , Lower Mahanoy Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; Roll T624_1384; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 71; Image: 89.