Esther Hildenbrand McAdoo was born on February 9, 1933, to Abe and Kate (Meller) Hildenbrand in Lipscomb County, Texas, near Higgins. She passed from life to Eternal Life on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at her home in Pampa, surrounded by her loving husband, family, and in the comfort of her caregivers, at the age of 89.
Services will be at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, December 28, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church with Rev. Michael Erickson, pastor, officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery, under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors and Crematory.
Esther graduated from Canadian High School in 1951 and then attended Draughon Business School in Amarillo. Esther married Gene McAdoo on September 7, 1952, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lipscomb, Texas. Esther and Gene started their married life in Norman, Oklahoma, where Gene was a student at the University of Oklahoma. But, out-of-state tuition led them back to Texas, where Gene attended Texas Western College in El Paso, until they started their family. In July of 1956, Esther gave birth to their first child, Terri McAdoo. Due to Gene’s job, they moved all over Texas, and their son Brian McAdoo was born in Stamford. In 1972, Gene was transferred to the Texas Panhandle, allowing Gene and Esther to settle in Pampa, where they have lived ever since.
Esther was an active member of Zion Lutheran Church, as well as a member of the ZLW Organization. While in Pampa, Esther was employed as a secretary for Arrington Companies for many years. During that time, she was an active member of the Desk and Derrick Club of Pampa, worked as a volunteer at Pampa Regional Medical Center, the Pampa Senior Citizens Center, Gray Cares, and the Living Home organization.
Esther is survived by her devoted husband of 70 years, Gene McAdoo of the home; daughter, Terri McAdoo Tonne and husband David of Edmond, Oklahoma; son, Brian McAdoo of Pampa; grandchildren, Rachel Jung of Midland, Rebecca Demel of Van Alstyne, Michael Tonne of Wink, and Ethan Tonne of Tulsa, Oklahoma; and 7 exceptional great-grandchildren, Alec Jung, Landry Jung, Ainsley Demel, Bennett Demel, Taetum Demel, Jacob Tonne, and Tyler Tonne.
She is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Henry Hildenbrand and Harry Hildenbrand; and sisters, Hulda Mae (who died at age 10), Ruth Stabel Sell, and Lola Malcolm.
Please sign the online register at www.carmichael-whatley.com.