Esther Irene (Fowler) VanMeter, 93, of Chillicothe, Ohio, went to be with her Lord Jesus Sunday, Feb. 15, 2009 in her home at her daughter and son-in-law’s residence in Chillicothe.

She was an active church member all her life and enjoyed singing and playing gospel music on her guitar and spending time with family and friends. She was a member of Bellemead United Methodist Church in Point Pleasant.

Esther was born May 6, 1915 in Point Pleasant to the late Homer Julian Bennett Fowler and Mina Frances (Rodgers) Fowler.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse Richard “Bill” VanMeter; four sisters, Dorothy F. Krebs, Zetha Thompson, Blanche McNeal and Helen L. Smith; and two brothers, Marlon R. Fowler and Wilmer J. Fowler.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Jeanette Frances Fowler Baldwin and Johnnie Burgess Baldwin Sr. of Chillicothe. She was “Granny” to five grandsons, Glenville L. (Melissa) Blain of Jackson, Ohio, Johnnie B. Jr. (Gina) Baldwin of Wellston, Ohio, and Linville R. Baldwin, Jesse L. (Donna) Baldwin and Jason F. (Melissa) Baldwin, all of Chillicothe, Ohio; 11 great-grandchildren, Hillary Baldwin, Lindsay Blain, Jessy Baldwin, Georgia Baldwin, Nathan Baldwin, Andrea Baldwin, Leanna Baldwin, Olivia Baldwin, Ryan Horsley, Crystal Rogers and Eric Rodgers; and four great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 18 at Wilcoxen Funeral Home in Point Pleasant with Pastor B.G. Cooper officiating. Burial will follow at Kirkland Memorial Gardens in Point Pleasant. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Mae Daniels of Chillicothe, who was Esther’s personal caregiver, and also to the loving staff at Hospice, her family, friends and neighbors.

Online condolences may be made at www.wilcoxenfuneralhome.com.