Obit Of Brandt, Esther V< - Washita County, Oklahoma Thanks To Bakersfield Californian For Permission To Upload Their Obits To The USGenWeb Archives. Copyright, http://www.bakersfield.com/ 12 Oct 2008 Return To Blaine County Archives: Http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/washita/washita.html ===================================================================== Usgenweb Notice Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.Htm ===================================================================== ::Hillcrest Memorial Park--Bakersfield CA The Bakersfield Californian Esther V Brandt Devoted wife, mother & business partner Oct. 21, 1910 Jan. 12, 2003 Esther Viola Brandt, 92, of Bakersfield, California, died Sunday, January 12, 2003. She was the wife of Henry F. Brandt. Esther was born in Corn, Oklahoma, daughter of Henry D. and Elizabeth Wiens, the third of four children. While she was still quite young, the family moved to California, first settling in Wasco, then to Bakersfield where her father obtained employment with the railroad. Following graduation from Bakersfield High School in 1928, she worked as a receptionist and bookkeeper at Dormans Photo Studio for seven years. She had an insatiable appetite for poetry and readings. On her parents 25th wedding anniversary celebration at the Mennonite Brethren Church (now Heritage Bible Church), she presented an original reading about their life. She recalled years later that while speaking, a young man walked in the front door of the church and stood there until she had completed the reading. The young man, who then took a seat, would later become her husband. They were married for 70 years. In 1944, they purchased New City Cleaners. During the early years of the business partnership, she worked only part-time to concentrate on the nurturing of their two young children. Eventually she became bookkeeper and office manager of the cleaners, a position she held until 1986 when they sold New City Cleaners to their grandson, Jarrell Epp. Esther felt a strong commitment to the Bakersfield Mennonite Brethren Church. She taught many age groups and served as Assistant Sunday School Superintendent for a number of years, being responsible for the beginner through junior departments. She later became the first chairman of the youth program, assisted in its creation by the pastor of the church, Reverend P.N. Hiebert, and fellow parishioner, Mr. Henry Lepp. In later years, she and Dr. Warren Simon reorganized the Youth Program, serving as program sponsors. Over a six-year period she served as Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer of the Mennonite Brethren Womens Missionary Service of the Pacific District Conference. The organization was formed to give women a chance to use their talents, time and money in support of foreign and home missions and institutions like Fresno Pacific University and MB Biblical Seminary. When Kern View Community Mental Health Hospital opened, she was appointed coordinator of volunteers and assigned the task of starting an auxiliary in 1965. Mrs. Brandt served as President of the auxiliary for nine years. She and her husband traveled extensively, making numerous trips across the United States to attend national dry cleaners conventions. They celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Hawaii fulfilling a promise Mr. Brandt made to his new wife on their honeymoon. In addition, they traveled to many European cities, including a visit to Amsterdam for the 7th World Conference of Mennonite Churches. Other trips included Singapore, Puerto Rico, Nova Scotia and Middle Eastern countries. As member of MEDA, Mennonite Economic Development Associates, they worked with a group of Christian business people from across the United States in the creation of small businesses in foreign countries. They were assigned to assist the natives of Bogota, Colombia. During the closing years of her life she saw some troubled times, but due to her strong belief and her love of God she was very blessed. The women of Alternative Care, as well as those at The Trinity House where Esther spent her last months, and the Chaplin and women of Hoffmann Hospice will be blessed for the work they do and more particularly for the way they treated Esther. In addition to her husband, Esther is survived by her son, Gary Brandt and his wife, Marjorie of Norwalk, Connecticut; a daughter, Sandra Epp and her husband, Werner of Bakersfield; a sister, Bertha Heier of Reedley, California; a brother, Arthur Wiens and his wife, Edna of Bakersfield. She was blessed with three grandchildren, Jennifer and her husband, Steve Lanham of Lubbock, Texas, Jarrell Epp and his wife, Amanda of Bakersfield, and Michael Brandt and Oriana Anholt of Boston, Massachusetts; and six great-grandchildren, Elizabeth and John Michael Lanham, and Jaston, Jarrett, Alexa and Jenner Epp, and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 17, in the Heritage Bible Church, 2323 Mount Vernon Avenue, Bakersfield, California. Graveside services will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, January 17, at Hillcrest Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to an organization involved in Third-World Christian evangelism, Haggai Institute, P.O. Box 13, Atlanta, GA 30370. Visitation 4:00 to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, January 16, Hillcrest Memorial Park & Mortuary. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Washita County Archives: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ok/washita/washita.html