Esther Borneman Bookheimer May 16, 1926 – January 07, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card Esther Borneman Bookheimer, 92, of Princeton, NJ, and formerly of Plymouth Meeting, PA passed away peacefully on January 7, 2019 at home. She was the beloved wife of Eugene Anson Bookheimer, married for nearly 59 years until his passing in 2014. Esther was born in Norristown, PA on May 16, 1926 to Warren B. and Edith (Yoder) Borneman.
She graduated from Norristown High School, attended Ursinus College and the New School of Music, studied at Westminster Choir College and Andover Organ Institute and received Orff Schulwerk certifications from the University of Illinois and University of Hartford. Esther taught organ and piano lessons, directed choral and bell choirs, and was a church organist for over 65 years using her musical talents to serve the Lord. She held church organist/choir director positions at Calvary Baptist Church in Norristown, PA; Central Presbyterian Church, Norristown, PA; First Baptist Church in Norristown, PA; and First Baptist Church in Lansdale, PA.
Esther was a solo organist and member of the American Guild of Organists. She performed concerts throughout the area, including The Noon Organ Series and St. Thomas Episcopal Church Carillon and Summer Recital Series. She studied with Dr. John H. Duddy, Jr., Madame Martha Massena, Professor Eugene Roan, Marie-Claire Alain and studied abroad, traveling throughout Holland, Germany and Austria.
Throughout her lifetime, Esther held memberships at the First Baptist Church of Lansdale, PA and the First Baptist Church of Norristown, PA. In addition to Esther’s lifelong love of music, she enjoyed spending time with her family, baking, decorating, and was an avid collector. A loving, generous, devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Esther is survived by her children Debbie Ross and her husband, Jeff, of Harleysville, PA, Nancy Kalmikoff and her husband, Larry, of Plainsboro, NJ, and Richard Bookheimer and his wife, Clare Mudd, of Lexington, SC; grandchildren Jeremy and Natalie Ross, Randal and Josh Kalmikoff, and Max, Sophie and Theo Bookheimer.
She was preceded in death by her brother Robert Borneman. Esther will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched. Relatives and friends may call between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 10 at Huff & Lakjer Funeral Home, 701 Derstine Ave.
, Lansdale, PA. A second visitation will begin 10 a.m. Friday, January 11 at First Baptist Church of Lansdale, 700 N. Broad St., Lansdale, PA 19446, followed by a Memorial Service and celebration of life through music at 11:00. Burial will be private in Hereford Mennonite Church Cemetery, Bally, PA.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the First Baptist Church of Lansdale, address above, or the First Baptist Church of Norristown, 445 Burnside Avenue, Norristown, PA 19403.
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