Esther N. Hostetter, 101, died Nov. 14, 2024, at Landis Homes, Lititz, Pa. She was born Jan. 14, 1923, the daughter of Viola (King) and Adrian Miller in northern Ohio.
At age 10 the family relocated to southwestern Ohio in the West Liberty community. There she formed lasting friendships and made a lifetime commitment to Jesus and the church she had learned to love. Following high school graduation, she spent three winters at Canadian Mennonite Bible School, where her concepts of the Christian faith expanded and grew.
In 1946 she volunteered for an assignment with Mennonite Central Committee and subsequently spent a year in rural Puerto Rico. There she met and married C. Nelson Hostetter. They enjoyed 69 years of marriage before his death in 2016. Their path in the next few years took them to several locations as he furthered his education and she supported them. They lived in West Liberty, Ohio, from 1951 to 1971, where they attended Oak Grove Mennonite Church. There they served the community in a small-town funeral home before answering a call, again from MCC, and relocated to Akron, Pa. She was a faithful member of Akron Mennonite Church for 53 years.
In the mid-1970s she began working for Self-Help Crafts (which later became Ten Thousand Villages) in various capacities, including secretarial support for the director. A highlight of this time was a work trip to India that made a lasting impression. She retired in 1986. In her retirement years she volunteered at the Material Resources Center, where she especially enjoyed quilting. Esther and Nelson moved to Landis Homes in 2009.
She is survived by a daughter, Kaye Book of Brevard, N.C.; a son, Chris Hostetter of Akron; a grandson and two great-grandchildren. Preceding her in death, in addition to her husband, were a brother, Gerald Miller; and a sister, Dorothy (Eldon) King.
