Esther Rawlins

Esther Miriam Rawlins

LANCASTER: January 13, 2016 marked the passing of a great lady. Late on Wednesday afternoon, Esther Miriam Rawlins, surrounded by loving family members, devoted caregivers and friends, died peacefully at the Lanfair Rehabilitation and Nursing Facility in Lancaster, Ohio.

On April 8, 1922 fraternal twins were born to Lucille and Homer Collins in Chillicothe, Ohio. They named them Chester and Esther. In youth the twins were inseparable as they were in their later adult lives … but early on Esther began asserting her individuality in many intriguing ways.

The multitalented young woman, who diligently studied the piano and English literature graduated at the top of her1940 graduating class at Huntington High School. After graduation she became an expert seamstress and milliner since her dream was to become a dress designer. However, a devilishly handsome Harry "Shinny" Rawlins swept the young woman right off her feet. Both bedazzled, they married in 1943 and set up housekeeping in Lancaster, Ohio. Their marriage spanned over seven decades and their partnership and offspring richly contributed to the Lancaster community. Harry established himself in the automobile business and bought Lancaster Motors Inc. on South Columbus Street. Esther went right to work as his bookkeeper and officiated as the Ohio State License Plate Registrar while maintaining a large suburban home and encouraging three young daughters to aspire to personal greatness.

Esther began giving book reviews to many organizations in town. She was known as Lancaster's "Story Lady". She became a fairy princess to a whole generation of youngsters. She visited schools and church groups retelling the legend of Forest Rose or the magical Christmas story The Littlest Angel. She found her written voice and was able to assert her often controversial opinions through authoring two newspaper columns for The Fairfield Leader in Baltimore, Ohio: "As It Looks from Here" and "From my Bookshelf". Her mountainous compilations of unpublished poetry also attest to Esther's prolific writing talent.

At the age of sixty, dynamo-Esther decided to study a new profession. She earned her realtor's license and became a sought-after, high-producing real estate agent for Coldwell Banker and she did this with passion until her eightieth birthday.

During all of the above, Esther was accompanying her "Shinny" on the piano, at every opportunity. They inspired hundreds of people with programs of poetry coordinated with familiar musical selections. These performances appealed to all ages and audiences. The well-loved Rawlins duo performed at churches, homes for the elderly, for service organizations and holiday gatherings. "All About Love and Other Things That Matter" is a CD they recorded for family and friends who want to remember Esther and Harry's legacy.

Esther Rawlins was a contributing member of the Lancaster Music Club, The Eastern Star, The Rota Coterie Literary Club, and nearly all organizations associated with The First United Methodist Church including co-directing the Methodist Youth Fellowship from 1943-1946 with her brand new husband, Shinny.



Four months and twenty-nine days after Harry Rawlins passed away, Esther Miriam followed. Along with countless loving nieces and nephews both near and far, she is survived by her twin brother, Chester (Mary Ella, deceased); sisters-in-law, Maxine Grierson (John), Nancy Bolton (Larry, deceased); daughters, Emily Rawlins Struckmann (Falk) of Switzerland, Harriet Rawlins Hill of Columbus, Ohio and Donna Rawlins Feist (Robert) of Ojai, California. Lastly survived by her cat, Hubie, affectionately named after Dr. Hubert Amstutz.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, Lucille Wilhelmina Christman Collins and Homer Clark Collins, her husband of seventy-one years, Harry, her sister, Mary Martha DePugh (John) and brothers, Wayne Collins (Bertha) and Harold Leroy Collins (surviving spouse, Judy).

The family would like to thank FairHoPe Hospice, and also their personal caregivers Mary Lefever Williams and Reba Wentz for their years of devotion.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:

The United Methodist Church Crossroads Building Fund

163 E Wheeling Street, Lancaster, Ohio 43130 or FairHoPe Hospice and Palliative Care 282 Sells Road, Lancaster, Ohio 43130.

The Memorial Service for Esther Miriam Rawlins will be held at 3:00 p.m.

On Sunday, January 31, 2016 at The First United Methodist Church of Lancaster, Ohio at 3:00 pm. Calling hours begin at 1:30 pm. Caring Cremation™ has taken place through the Frank E. Smith Funeral Home. Online condolences can be made at www.funeralhome.com