Esther Johnson Rudge 1944-2024

She was born July 8, 1944, in Buffalo Center, Iowa, the daughter of the late Oscar and Viola Johnson.

Esther was an avid reader and musician who played the piano as a child and learned to play the organ at 13 for her sister Alice’s wedding.

She graduated from the College of Wooster in Ohio with a Bachelor of Music. After teaching music at St. Margaret’s School in Virginia, she moved to Columbus to earn a Master’s in Organ Performance from the Ohio State University. While studying at Ohio State University, she played the organ at the Boulevard Presbyterian Church. She taught organ lessons to nuns at the Convent of St. Mary of the Springs in Columbus.

While her husband John was stationed at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, Esther was the substitute organist for two years. She conducted choir rehearsals for the cadet choir and directed them on Sundays. She mentioned that the beauty of the cadets’ voices in the chapel was exceptional. Esther enjoyed playing each Sunday for a month while the lead organist was in Europe during the winter. The organ was the largest pipe organ in the United States in the early 1970s. It was an enormous five-keyboard instrument with a crescendo pedal of thirty-two to vary the loudness of the music within the Cadet Chapel. Esther played the organ for touring groups and several military weddings at West Point.

After moving to Canfield, where her husband worked in his general dentistry practice, Esther served as the organist for First Christian Church in Youngstown for many years, and then served as the organist at Canfield Presbyterian Church in Canfield. She was an avid American Guild of Organists member and played a recital for the 50th-anniversary celebration in Youngstown. Esther played for weddings and funerals at churches and temples throughout the Youngstown Metropolitan Area.

In addition to her organist roles, Esther taught music to students first in Austintown Local Schools and then Poland Local Schools in Ohio. As a music teacher, she led her students during many choral performances throughout the year, which were memory-making experiences. She taught children to play instruments, including the guitar and square dance. Esther enjoyed traveling extensively throughout the world with her family and friends.

Esther is survived by two daughters, Laura Peterson (Craig) of Roswell, Georgia, and Kristin Delahanty (Chris) of Alpharetta, Georgia; one son, Brian Rudge (Amanda) of Plain City; eight grandchildren and one sister, Alice Christianson of Santa Ana, California. She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.

Esther was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, John Rudge; and one brother, Robert Johnson.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2025, at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Esther will be laid to rest with her husband, John, at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers, consider donating to the Pastor’s Emergency Fund at Alpharetta Presbyterian Church at onrealm.org/AlpharettaPres/-/form/give/memorial or the American Guild of Organists at www.agohq.org.

Arrangements are in the care of McDonald and Son Funeral Home, 150 Sawnee Drive, Cumming, GA, 30040, 770-886-9899, mcdonaldandson.com.

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