Esther Fouts

Circleville Esther Julia (Case) Fouts of Circleville passed away peacefully on November 9 after a brief illness, at home and surrounded by loved ones. She was born February 29, 1944, in Beloit, Ohio, to Ernest and Evangeline (Glass) Case, the fifth of eight children.

From her earliest years, Esther's life was shaped by music. Raised in a family of musicians, she began singing and playing the violin as a child and soon discovered both her gift and her calling. She studied music education at Muskingum University, where she served as concertmaster of the college orchestra and sang with the a cappella choir, taking part in a concert tour that included a performance at Carnegie Hall.

It was also at Muskingum that she met the love of her life. Fellow student Dannie Fouts developed a crush on the pretty redhead who played violin in the orchestra and worked part-time as a server in the cafeteria (where she once spilled an entire pitcher of ice water on him during a meal, though whether this was accidental or intentional remained a subject of family debate). The attraction was mutual, and the two were engaged on Valentine's Day 1966 and married six months later, just after graduation, on August 14. So began a partnership that would last nearly sixty years.

They made their home in Circleville, where both accepted teaching positions in the local schools. Esther taught music classes at Pickaway Elementary School and directed the school's beloved Christmas programs.

Sacred choral music was at the heart of her life's work. For more than thirty years she served as Director of Music at Community United Methodist Church, where she built a vibrant program that became central to the church's ministry. Under her direction, the Joy Choir for children and the large adult choir flourished. Each Christmas she arranged and conducted a much-anticipated presentation of highlights from Handel's Messiah, featuring a combined youth and adult chorus with a small orchestra. The sanctuary was filled to capacity year after year, and Esther often lent her own beautiful soprano voice as soloist. She regarded this music not as performance but as an offering of worship. Her devotion to ensuring that the church was filled with music of the highest quality reflected her belief that every note should be offered to the glory of God.

She was also a devoted violin teacher, introducing many local children to the Suzuki Method through after-school lessons in the Fouts home, which was filled with their music most afternoons. Her students remember her patience, high standards, and the joy she brought to each lesson. Her influence continues in many families through the sons and daughters of former students who have also taken up the violin.

Esther was often called upon to share her music at weddings, civic programs, and holiday concerts, both as a singer and as a violinist. Many will recall her performances at community Christmas gatherings, where she often played alongside Drexel Poling on flute and Don Metzler on piano. She also brought Christmas music each year to the Pickaway County youth correctional facility, where she was affectionately known as "the violin lady."

In recent years, she was a frequent guest violinist with the Ohio Christian University orchestra for its annual Christmas program, an event she cherished and had planned to join again this year.

Along with her work on violin and voice, Esther often played the piano. When Trinity United Methodist Church in Laurelville was without a pianist for Sunday services, she readily stepped in, sometimes driving to Adelphi afterward to play for worship there as well. Even in her eighties she continued to refine her piano skills, studying new techniques through online lessons. One of her recent projects was to improve her playing of Bach's Prelude in C Major (Ave Maria); she sought a softer touch that allowed the notes to flow more smoothly, and in time she achieved it. She performed the piece beautifully as a prelude at Trinity on the last Sunday of October, just days before illness prevented her from playing again.

Outside of music, Esther loved nature and could identify nearly every bird, plant, and tree in the area by sight or by song. After Dannie's passing, she carried on his love of sports and became an avid follower of college football and basketball, the NFL, and Major League Baseball. She especially enjoyed watching the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Cincinnati Reds, and Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose heroics in the 2025 season she followed with delight.

At the center of her life was a deep Christian faith and an unshakable belief in the power of prayer. When someone shared a concern, her response was "I'll pray for you," and she meant it. Her family and friends are forever grateful for those prayers, which remain a source of strength and comfort.

Esther was a loving and caring wife, mother, and grandmother. She is survived by her sons, Todd (Hiroko) of Saitama, Japan, and Scott (Julie) of Tucson, Arizona, and by her grandchildren, Kai and Ava, who brought her immense pride and joy. She is also survived by her brothers and sisters Howard Case, Carol (William) Pohl, Evan (Phyllis) Case, Frances Beaty, Roland (Lori) Case, and John (Audrey McGowin) Case; and by her brother-in-law, Ronnie (Carole) Fouts of Malta, Ohio.

She was preceded in death last November by her beloved husband, Dannie, with whom she shared 58 years of marriage; her parents; her brother and sister-in-law, Leroy and Louise Case; her sister-in-law, Carolyn (Howard) Case; and her brother-in-law, John (Frances) Beaty.

A service celebrating Esther's life will be held at Community United Methodist Church (120 N. Pickaway St., Circleville) on Saturday, November 15, at 10:00 a.m. with visitation at Wellman Funeral Home on Friday, November 14, from 2:00 to 5:00. She will be laid to rest beside Dannie at Hitler-Ludwig Cemetery.

The family is deeply grateful to Heartland Hospice for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fouts Family Scholarship, Ohio Christian University, 1476 Lancaster Pike, Circleville, OH 43113. Esther Fouts