Esther Donner

October 8, 2009

Esther R. Donner, 92, of 259 Broadhead Ave., died Monday (Oct. 5, 2009) in her home. She was born Aug. 24, 1917 in Buffalo, the daughter of Clyde and Amelia Earle. A graduate of Jamestown High School, she had worked at the Davis-Randolph Furniture Co. and the Jamestown YWCA in earlier years. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was formerly a member of the Kidder Memorial United Methodist Church, and had been an organ and piano player in both churches. She was also a member of the Women?s Christian Temperance Union and the Youth Temperance Council, where she had been a teacher, and was a member and former secretary of the Chautauqua County Conservative Party Committee. Surviving are her husband, Melvin H. Donner, whom she married Sept. 24, 1944 in Jamestown; three daughters: Lorraine E. Kibler of Ocala, Fla., Loretta E. Albright of Jamestown, and Rebecca M. Klinefelter of Jamestown; a son, Brian H. Donner of Jamestown; five grandchildren: Denise E. Albright of Olean, Jeremiah J. McBride of North Carolina, Nicholas J. McBride of Frewsburg, Jennifer J. Booth of North Carolina, and Shelly R. Sapp of Florida; eight great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Laverne Donner of Bath, N.Y.; and a sister-in-law, Delores Keller of North Carolina. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Sharon Ann Donner, who died April 28, 1960; and by a brother, Henry Earle, who died in Africa during World War II. A memorial service will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 851 Forest Ave., Jamestown. Powers, Present & Sixbey Funeral Home is handling arrangements.