Esther Stallings

Obituary

Obituary

Esther Evelyn Stallings Esther was born to James and Mary Grumbles, in Healdton, OK, on December 17, 1926. She was raised in Ardmore, OK, and when she was a teenager her family moved to Shafter, CA. Esther graduated from Shafter High School in 1945, and was nominated homecoming princess during her senior year. She also played basketball for the Lady Generals. She married Spencer Stallings on Sept. 27, 1946 in Shafter. Esther was quite the homemaker; she enjoyed gardening, sewing and cooking; her apple pies and cherry cobblers were especially big hits. Esther loved to read and passed this passion on to all of her children. She also loved music; she could often be heard whistling around the house, and she especially enjoyed Country/Western music. Her kids and grandkids will always remember the fun folk songs that she would sing to them. Esther was also a bit of a sports fan, especially enjoying baseball and football. She was a member of the Shafter Church of Christ for many years, and in their retirement, she and Spencer enjoyed traveling with the Shafter Trailer Club.
Esther is preceded in death by her parents, James and Mary; and her siblings, Ellen Akers, Gladys Doughty, James Grumbles, Manuel Grumbles, Velma Wilson and Bernice Dolphin. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Spencer Stallings; her children, Bill and wife Judy Stallings, Linda and husband Carroll Winter, and Judy and husband Rick Jones; her sister Francis Lynd; grandchildren, Melissa Stallings, Joel Stallings, Tracy Brewer, Philip Winter, Rick Jones Jr., Shannon Namanny, and Joshua Jones; 6 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at Shafter Memorial Park, on Wednesday, November 23, 2011 beginning at 11am. Pastor Steve Mann of the Shafter Church of Christ will officiate the service.