Esther L. Kirkendall, 75 of Bluffton and formerly of Lima died at 11:22 a.m., January 21, 2011, at Mennonite Memorial Home, Bluffton.

She was born March 8, 1935, in West Liberty, Ohio, to Boyd A. and Ruth E. (Hartzler) Lapp. On April 15, 1956 she married Darrel E. Kirkendall and he survives.

Mrs. Kirkendall retired as a cafeteria worker from Elida High School. She was a member of Tri-County Assembly of God, Bluffton. She had also been a church pianist for 21 years at Calvary Community Temple and Liberty Temple both in Lima. She enjoyed gardening, crocheting and sewing. She was a 1953 graduate of Salem High School.

Survivors also include three sons Terry (Cathy) Kirkendall of Lima, Stan (Julia) Kirkendall of Tulsa, Ok., and Dennis (Amanda) Kirkendall of Canton, Mich., two daughters Beverly (Jim) Miller of Wapakoneta and Becky (Russell) Binkley of Raleigh, N.C.

Also surviving are 14 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two sisters Carol (Tim) Graber of Hurley, S.D., and Sara (Ralph) Janzen of Buhler, Kan.; five brothers Stephen (Miriam) Lapp of West Liberty, Joe (Sarah) Lapp of Anderson, Ind., David (Shirley) Lapp of West Liberty, John (Jane) Lapp of Manheim, Pa., and Sam (Gail) Lapp of Ft. Worth, Texas.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25, at Ebenezer Mennonite Church, Bluffton. Rev. Terry Hunt and Chaplain William Herr officiating.

Burial will be in Salem Mennonite Cemetery, Elida. Visitation will be Monday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at Chiles-Laman Funeral Home, Bluffton. Memorial contributions may be made to Tri-County Assembly of God or Putnam County Hospice. Condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.