Esther G. (Book) Ulery

Esther Grace Ulery passed from this life on August 22, 2018 at Messiah Lifeways where she has resided since 1981. She was born February 9, 1921 in Thomas, Oklahoma to Isaiah E. Book and Hattie E. Haldeman Book, but lived most of her youth in Upland, California. She was the middle child of five siblings. Deceased siblings include Marion Book (Eunice Zook), Paul Book (Evelyn Gish), and Alvin Book (Thata Frey). Surviving sister is Ruth Haskell (Jim Haskell) of Raymondsville, Texas.

In 1977, she married Arthur Grove who died 4 years later from Lou Gehrig’s disease. She is survived by two step children, Darrel and Shirley Rebello.  Esther moved to Messiah Village in 1981 and married again in 1983 to Dale W. Ulery who passed away 12 years later. She is survived by 4 step children, Keith Ulery, Dave Ulery, Phil Ulery, and Brenda Schanner.  Another step child, Janet Dobie is deceased. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews on the Book side of the family.

Esther graduated from Upland College in 1945 and received 42 post-graduate credits form Claremont Graduate School. Esther was a teacher in several American schools. Though she had no healthcare education, she served for three years with MCC in Kashmir, India where she had a stretching experience working in a dispensary. She also did relief work and began learning the Hindi language during that time. Later following graduate work in the United States, she returned to India in her mid-twenties. This time, it was with Brethren in Christ World Missions and she spent 19 years establishing and then teaching in a school. Eventually, she became head mistress in a school of 350 students. When she returned to the U.S., she continued her teaching career at the Navajo Brethren in Christ Mission where she spent five years. Esther’s desire was to live a life like Jesus, being a servant to all.

A Memorial Service for Esther will be held in the Messiah Lifeways Chapel on Friday, August 31, 2018 at 2:00PM. Internment will take place at Ferncliff Cemetery in Springfield, Ohio. Memorial gifts in Esther’s name can be sent to BIC World Missions and labeled for the SPICE Program (431 Grantham Rd. Mechanicsburg, PA 17055). Arrangements by Weaver Funeral Home, LLC; Woodbury, Pennsylvania.