Esther L. Stark

Esther L. Stark of Caro, age 95, passed away on Friday, April 18, 2014 at Tendercare in Cass City. She was born May 11, 1918 in Eaton Rapids, the daughter of the late Vern and Pearl (Gruesbeck) Towns. Esther was a 1936 graduate of Eaton Rapids High School and attended Cleary College in Ypsilanti. She worked for Michigan Bell as a switchboard operator in Charlotte from 1937 to 1939, and on May 6, 1939 was united in marriage with William Stark at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Albion. He preceded her in death in 1978. Esther and William lived on the family farm in nearby Springport where they raised four children. She was active in community and church activities and served as a Girl Scout leader. Esther also worked part time as a switchboard operator at the Springport Consolidated Telephone Company and was later employed until her retirement by the Bank of Albion, which became Chemical Bank. She spent winters in Mesa, Arizona, and following her retirement, lived in Albion from 1980 until 2001 when she moved to Caro and lived at the Caro Senior Commons through March of 2007. She then moved to Kalamazoo and lived with her daughter, Bette Stark, until January of 2013 when she moved to Tendercare in Cass City. Since 2000, Esther attended St. Paul Lutheran Church in Caro while continuing her affiliation with St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Albion where she was an active member from 1940 to 2000. Esther is survived by her children, Bonnie & Dennis Johnson of Caro, Bette Stark of Kalamazoo, William & Carol Stark of Lake Orion; grandchildren and their spouses, Denene & Greg Huff, Brent & Shannon Johnson, Troy Johnson, Julie & Martin McClure, Diana Dickinson, Cristie & Donald Tyrell, Michael & Laura Stark, Christopher & Kristin Schmoke, Jessica & Jason Herbert; great-grandchildren, Samuel Huff, Jack and Ava Johnson, Jordan, Brody and Madison Stark, Nick and Ella Palencar, Katie and Drew Tyrell, Jessica and Jennifer McClure, Griffin, Bradley, Lucy and Colton Schmoke, Brendan, Jacob, Brooklyn and Blake Herbert. In addition to her parents and husband, Esther was preceded in death by one daughter, Brenda Schmoke in 1999. Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro with Rev. Cameron Steele officiating. The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 7:00 p.m. A second funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albion with Rev. Dennis Matyas officiating. Burial will follow at Albion Memory Gardens. The family will receive friends in Albion at the church from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:00 p.m. Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorial contributions to the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albion. Visitation Information Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro with Rev. Cameron Steele officiating. The family will be present to receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until the time of the service at 7:00 p.m. A second funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albion with Rev. Dennis Matyas officiating. The family will receive friends in Albion at the church from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:00 p.m. Service Information Ransford Collon Funeral Home Address: 989-673-2175 | Map Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at the Ransford Collon Funeral Home in Caro with Rev. Cameron Steele officiating. A second funeral service will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2014 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Albion with Rev. Dennis Matyas officiating.