Esther R. Boyles

Esther R. Boyles, 98, of Versailles passed away at 12:45pm Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at Ripley Crossing in Milan. She was born near Friendship on December 1, 1918 the daughter of William Henry and Elsie Hunger Fischvogt. She met Edward Boyles at a legion dance in Milan in 1939 and they were married on August 31, 1940 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Olean. Edward preceded her in death on September 11, 1992. Survivors include two daughters Sharen (Kenneth) Thomas of Cross Plains and Karen (Paul) Filter of Dillsboro; one son William Boyles of Bedford; 9 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents, her brother Denton Fischvogt, and her sister Irene Smock. Mrs. Boyles attended the Friendship School, attended two years of high school at Cross Plains, and was a 1937 graduate of Versailles High School. After high school she attended the Indiana Central Business College in Indianapolis. In her younger years Esther took vocal lessons and on one occasion she won the talent show at the Friendship Street Fair and along with Arnold "Shorty" Obendorf won a talent contest at the Sherman House in Batesville. She was also an accomplished poet and her book "Free to Fly" contains 100 poems she had written. She was a former employee of the Jefferson Proving Ground, the Friendship Post Office, and Contel Telephone in Versailles. Esther was a lifelong member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church at Olean and was also a member of the Versailles American Legion Auxiliary. Funeral services will be held on Monday, February 13 at 10:30am at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Olean with Pastor Curtis Black officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be on Sunday from 5pm to 8pm at the Stratton-Karsteter Funeral Home in Versailles. Memorials may be given to the Activities Fund at Ripley Crossing, the Alzheimers Foundation, or the donor's choice in care of the funeral home.