Esther Barbara Hall

Esther S. Hall, of Columbus, Ohio, one of God's angels, embraced the Lord on a peaceful Thursday morning, January 7, 2010 at the age of 92 years. She was born Esther Barbara Shircliffe on November 17, 1917 in Cincinnati. She was the daughter and 2nd child of Arthur J. Shircliffe 1885-1934 and Frances C. (Brinkman) Shircliffe 1885-1972. Esther grew up in the riverboat city of Marietta, Ohio and moved to Columbus with her family after her father died. She inherited her luminous red hair and the childhood nickname "Little Jack" from her father. From her mother, Esther learned independence and good money management. She loved books and read every single book in the Marietta library at least once. She always said she was "scrawny", yet this petite woman had 10 children, and outlived her brother James 1921-1998 and her sister Marjorie (Emerick) 1916-2005. She married Edward Sterling Hall in 1941. Sterling died in 1990. After 54 years in the family home on Oakland Park Avenue in Columbus she moved to Friendship Village of Columbus where she was residing at the time of her death. Her zest for life is represented in the widely-ranging experiences of her children who could hardly be more different. They are Barbara, Robert, Steven, Gary, Michael, Pamela, Deborah, Cynthia, Russell, and Patricia. They live in far-flung states of Virginia, Ohio, Florida, Arizona, Oregon, Hawaii, and California; some of their spouses hail from even farther places such as the Netherlands, France, Taiwan, Germany, and Australia. She has 26 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. As a young woman, Esther attended Bliss College in Columbus and took a job working as a clerk for the State of Ohio. Education was important to Esther but a full college degree was denied her during the depression years when money was hard to come by. When her children were nearly grown, Esther went to work at Battelle Memorial Institute as a research librarian. She then enrolled at Ohio State University and attended classes after work and on weekends. At age 66 she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She also made numerous personal sacrifices to promote her children's education. Many of them have more than one college degree. She retired from Battelle at age 71 after 23 years of service. During her many years in Columbus she volunteered for the Council for Retarded Children, Inc. and served as den mother and Girl Scout leader. She did volunteer work in the office at Immaculate Conception Church where she was a member for more than 60 years. She baked countless cakes and cookies for church social events as well. She was tireless and full of energy. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, she "determined that the thing could be done, and then...., found a way". Friends may call at the SOUTHWICK-GOOD & FORTKAMP FUNERAL CHAPEL, 3100 N. High St. Sunday, 2-4 & 6-8 p.m. (Rosary Service 7:30 p.m.). Mass of Christian Burial Monday, 10:15 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, 414 E. North Broadway. Msgr. Stephan Moloney, Celebrant and Msgr. Anthony Missimi, Con-Celebrant. Interment Resurrection Cemetery. www.southwickfuneral.com