Esther Drucilla Bontz

©The Ponca City News

Tues, Nov 22, 2005

Submitted by: Shirley Harlan

Blackwell - Esther Drucilla Bontz, resident of Blackwell, died Monday morning, Nov. 21, 2005, in Blackwell Regional Hospital. She was 102.

The funeral will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, in First Baptist Church with the Rev. Roy Moody, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Mount Olive Cemetery in Nardin under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home.

Esther Drucilla Bontz was born May 7, 1903, in Leapwood, Tenn., the daughter of William and Esther Shoemaker Duckworth. In 1904, the family moved to a farm northeast of Deer Creek, where she grew up and attended Hurley Rural School and Deer Creek schools.

She married George Austin Bontz in Enid on Feb. 14, 1933, and they lived in a farm east of Ponca City. In 1964, they moved to Blackwell.

She was a member of First Baptist Church, the Loyal Women's Sunday school class and taught Sunday school for two years. She was also a member of the Women's Missionary Union.

Survivors include her daughter, Helen Hall of Ponca City; her brother, Owen Duckworth of Cottonwood, Ariz.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband on Oct. 10, 1966; her parents; a daughter, Lorene Ciskowski; four sisters, Veda Steagall, Eunice Burkhalter, Leota Curfman and Sarah Webb; and three brothers, Otis, Clarence and Eugene Duckworth.

Casket bearers will be Donald Sodowsky, Cecil Sodowsky, David Haney and Jim Whittenburg.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to First Baptist Church, c/o Roberts and Son Funeral Home, 120 W. Padon, Blackwell, Okla. 74631.