Obituary of Esther Wise

Esther Jane Whisler Wise, 96, of Brookhaven Road, Morgantown, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 2, 2010.Esther was born on October 10, 1914, on the Whisler farm positioned on the Monongalia and Wetzel County borders near Wadestown,WV. She was the youngest child and only daughter of the late Abram Kingsley Whisler and Sarah Etta Bartrug Whisler. As a child Esther attended Valley Chapel Elementary and later, Wadestown High School. Esther graduated from Fairmont State College in 1936. She was an elementary school teacher for about seven years in Monongalia County and taught multiple grades in a one room schoolhouse. After teaching, she had various jobs, including waitress/cook for Haganâs Dairy restaurant and clerk for Montgomery Wards, both located in downtown Morgantown. She married J. Harold Wise on September 27, 1940 and had four children. Her last employment was as head cashier for S.M. Whitesideâs, a former ladiesâ clothing store located on High Street in Morgantown, where she worked for 19 years until retirement in 1983. Family was very important to Esther, she and her sister-in-law, the late Mildred Whisler, visited courthouses, graveyards and libraries over a three county-wide area in the late 1980âs to research names and dates from historical records and write the Whisler Family History. She successfully traced and documented the Whisler family ancestry back to her great-great grandfather. She was very active in the PTA and Scouting Programs when her children were small and served two years as President of the Wiles Hill PTA. A devout Methodist by faith, she was a member of Highland Park United Methodist Church, where she was the oldest living member of the congregation. Esther had a very good sense of humor all of her life - straight to the point, honest and direct, never mean or belittling, but consistently gave voice to her heart in all matters. She will always be remembered by those who loved her as possessing the generous and loving spirit of Jesus Christ, her Lord and Savior which she showed daily in caring more for the needs of others than for herself. She will be greatly missed by all for her love and compassionate caring nature. She is survived by her four children and two daughters-in-law son, John H. Wise, Jr. and wife Darlina daughter, Nancy Jane Cutlip son, Thomas A. Wise and wife, Nancy Joan all of Morgantown and Debra L. Wise, her youngest daughter and primary caregiver with whom she made her home six grandchildren, Donald Cutlip, Jr. of Morgantown, Melissa Devlin of Fairfield, PA, Michelle Dixon and husband Jonathan of Morgantown, Mark Wise and wife, Stacy of Morgantown, Susan Peskar and husband Matt of Morgantown and William Wise of Gainesville, FL nine great-grandchildren, David C. Cutlip of Morgantown, Courtney and Megan Dixon of Morgantown, Danielle and Jacqueline Devlin of Fairfield, PA, Sarah, Ashley and Jason Peskar of Morgantown and Hailey Wise of Morgantown. Additionally, she is survived by various nephews and spouses, many great-nephews and great-nieces, various cousins and extended family members and her canine companion, Gracie.In addition to her parents, Esther was preceded in death by two older brothers, Charles Bryon and Robert, and another brother, Frank, who died as an infant. In addition to her brothers, she was preceded in death by her ex-husband, Harold in 1996 three very dear sisters-in-law, Lucy Shriver Whisler, Mildred Liming Whisler and Lillian Wise Tilton, and one son-in-law, Donald D. Cutlip.Family and friends will be received at Hastings Funeral Home, 153 Spruce St., Morgantown on Sunday, December 5th from 2-5 PM and again on Monday, December 6th from 10 AM until the time of the funeral service at 11 AM with Reverend Christopher Gudger-Raines officiating. Interment will follow in the East Oak Grove Cemetery.In lieu of flowers as per her wishes, donations may be made in her name to the Highland Park United Methodist Church, C/O Linda Donhiser, 19 Warrick St., Morgantown, WV 26505.