Obituary of Esther Jean Hite Wilhoit, Edgar County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 2000 Cindy McCachern Obituary of Esther Jean Hite Wilhoit Thursday, 12 December 1940, Kansas (IL) Journal Mrs. Ralph E. Wilhoit passed away late Sunday afternoon in the Paris hospital where she had been a patient for a week. On the Monday previous she was taken to the hospital where she underwent an emergency operation for strangulated hernia. She had not been in good health for the past five years. The funeral service was held at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the Presbyterian church. The pastor, the Rev. F. Arthur Grunewald, spke briefly, using the scripture, Second Corinthians 5:1, as a text "For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands eternal in the heavens." Soft music, with Mrs. Hayes Hutchins as organist, was used during the entire service. Bearers were T. S. Wright, M. N. Troll, R. H. Galbreath, Dr. F. R. Weaver, F. A. Neal and O. T. Morris, and flowers were cared for by members of the Entre Nous club. Interment was made in Fairview cemetery. Esther Jean Hite was born in this city on April 14, 1885, the daughter of Charles Abraham and Jennie Mitchell Hite. She attended Kansas schools and Oxford college, Oxford, Ohio, as was graduated from Lindenwood college, St. Charles, Mo, with majors in Latin and music. On June 29, 1910, she was united in marriage with Ralph E. Wilhoit of this city, who survives, together with two children, Mrs. A. Lincoln Stanfield and John Owen Wilhoit. Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Helen R. McLean, Blaine, Miss.; Mrs. C. H. McAdams, Greenville; and two brothers, John M. Hite, Kansas; and Robert A. Hite, Greenville. A brother, Roy, died in childhood. There is one grandson, David Lincoln Stanfield. From girlhood Esther had been a member of the Presbyterian church, affilitated with its several organizations and serving as an active member. For a number of years she helped in the primary department of the Sunday school. A few years ago she directed the Kansas Community choir. The vesper services of this organiztion will be long remembered. In past years Esther and her brother, John M. Hite, often played together on the piano and organ in the Presbyterian church, ___ ___ of Handel's Largo, the Pilgrim's Chorus and the Sextette from Lucia will not be forgotten. For one year she was in charge of the music in the Kansas grades and high school. She had greatly enjoyed being a member of the Entre Nous and Tuesday Bridge clubs. Her loss will be felt beyond her immediate family, for her friends and acquaintances in the community were legion. Among those who attended the service from out-of-town were: Mrs. Helen McLean, Blaine, Miss.; Mr. and Mrs. C. H. McAdams, Mrs. Clarence Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Hite, Greenville; Ed Mitchell, Charles Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. John Newell, Charleston; Miss Sally Hite, Decatur; Mrs. Bertha Lockhart, Bloomington, Ind; Mrs. Kathryn Wilhoit, Miss Edna McDavitt, Miss Dollie McAllister, Carl Patrick, Mrs. Ray Bishop, Paris; Mr. and Mrs. H. O. Jones, Miss Emileen Stanfield, and Mrs. John Williams, Edgar. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb Archivist with proof of this consent. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Cindy McCachern