Esther Paxton Tobey

1921 - 2017

Esther Paxton Tobey

Vero Beach

ESTHER PAXTON TOBEY (95) of Vero Beach died Thursday, June 22 at the VNA Hospice House. A well-known real estate agent and active member of the Vero Beach community since 1969, Esther will be deeply missed by her family and many friends.

Esther was born on October 15, 1921 in Deersville, Ohio. She grew up in Scio, Ohio, and attended Ohio State University. At Ohio State, she met and married William "Bill" Lange, a U.S. Navy officer in training. When Bill was shipped overseas, Esther moved back to Scio to help her parents in their hardware store. At war's end, Esther and Bill lived in Pittsburgh, PA and then to Manhasset, NY, where they raised their two children, William and Carolyn Lange.

In 1969, Esther married former big band leader and a music publisher, George Paxton. The couple moved to Old Riomar in Vero Beach, where George continued his publishing business and Esther worked until she retired from real estate in 2003. They were married until George's death in 1989.

Following George's death, Esther lived alone until she met and married Edward Tobey of Stuart, FL in 1994. Ed and Esther spent 20 years of marriage together living in Old Riomar and enjoying their summers in Dorsett, VT. They traveled the world to such far off places as Turkey, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, and many other destinations. Ed died in March 2014.

Esther is survived by daughter Carolyn Lange of Vero Beach, son William Lange of San Diego, CA, and their children, grandsons Lange Sykes of Vero Beach and William Lange III of San Diego and her great-granddaughter, Peyton Martinez. She is also survived by her brother, Hobart Stroud of Scio, Ohio; by George's sons George Paxton of Vero Beach and Jeffrey Paxton of Redbank, New Jersey; and, by Ed Tobey's children, Susan Bender of Stuart and sons James of Stroudsburg, PA and David of Lansdale, PA and their children and grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to VNA Hospice House 1110 35th Lane Vero Beach, FL 32960. A memorial service will be held at 1 PM Wednesday, June 28 at the Community Church of Vero Beach, Great Chapel, 1901 23rd Street. A reception will follow at the Vero Beach Country Club. She will be buried at John's Island at a private ceremony.