Esther Cathryn (Aber) Chapman
Esther Cathryn (Aber) Chapman, 94, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at Salyer Adult Group Home in Hillsboro.
She was born April 24, 1929 on a farm near Marathon, Ohio, the daughter of the late Edgar Isaac and Mina Edna (Robinson) Aber.
On Easter Sunday in 1941, Esther was baptized into Christ and remained faithful in her attendance to the church as long as her health allowed. In 1947, Esther married Starling (Pete) Waits and to that marriage were born three children, Jerry (Mary Ruth) Waits, Deborah (Charles) Etienne, and Bobby (Cheryl) Waits.
Esther worked at Highland District Hospital as a nurse’s aide for a few years in the 1970s. In 1979, Esther married Edward Chapman. In later years, Ed was confined to the Veterans Home in Georgetown until his death in 2011. During those five years when Ed was a resident there, Esther visited Ed nearly every day. Esther remained on the Chapman farm in the Buford area for several months after Ed’s passing. Later that year, she moved into a cabin beside her daughter and son-in-law, where she lived for nearly eight years.
Many times, she remarked on how happy she was in that little cabin. She was always delighted when any of her family or friends came to visit her.
Esther will be missed by seven grandchildren, Garyn (Cheryl) Waits, Joe (Rhonda) Etienne, Lora (Shane) Simmons, Jerrod (Amy) Etienne, Gregory (Nina) Waits, Heather Jones and Ben Waits. She is also survived by two step-grandsons, Travis (Laura) LeForge and Shane (Ashley) LeForge. She also leaves many beloved nieces and nephews. Esther was Granny Chap to 26 great-grandchildren, Gage, Lexi, Ian and Livy Waits, Claudia Etienne, Trevin and Logan (Brittney) Simmons, Dylan, Lukas, and McKenzie Etienne, Jenna and Allie Waits, Emma, Grace and Landon, Myles and Mason Jones and Reese Waits; with eight step great-grandchildren, Trevor, Trentin, Treyden, Anna, Hunter, Madison, Ryder and Vanden Leforge.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Starling (Pete) Waits; her husband, Edward Chapman;, and three sisters, Margaret Ramey, Ellen Leach and Frances Jacobson.
Visitation will be 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23 at the Buford Church of Christ, 2457 S.R. 138, Sardinia.
Funeral service will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23 at the church. Burial will take place in the Buford Cemetery following services.
Memorial contributions may be made in Esther’s name to the Buford Church of Christ, 2457 S.R. 138, Sardinia 45171.
The Turner & Son Funeral Home is serving the family. To leave an online condolence, please visit www.turnerfuneralhomes.cc.