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ATASCADERO, California - The image of an exuberant young girl running through a field of flowers into the wide open arms of her Heavenly Father fills our hearts with hope as we announce the passing of our beloved Esther Darlene Miller, who left this temporary life for eternity in the early hours of Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026, immediately following a diagnosis with Leukemia.
A woman of generosity, faith and resilience, Esther leaves a rich legacy for her family, including her children and step-children, Carla, Danny, Darla, Dawnell, Valarie and Von; her grandchildren, Laura, Dana, Brittany, Rebekkah, Jonah, Travis, Trishelle, Janae, Jared, Jamie, Stefanie, Jory, Nate, Lainey and Tori; as well as 28 great-grandchildren!
A portion of Esther's favorite scripture (Romans 8:28-39) reads, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." She recounted her acceptance of the Lord into her life at the age of 11 on Easter Sunday, and how He sustained her through the loss of her mother at merely 14 years old.
She lived her childhood in Youngstown with her father, William Christner, her two sisters, Wanda and Roxanna, and her brother, Ronald. Here she also met her first husband Carl, the father of her children, Carla Ruth and Daniel Wade.
Following their divorce in 1979, Esther clung tightly to God, trusting in His good plans for her and her teenage son and daughter.
Esther was an example of faithful service to the Lord and others, growing in her devotion to Him during her 15-year period of singleness.
Throughout this period she also excelled in her work, earning the position of office manager for Del Mar Avionics. Eventually, after prayers for a Christian husband, she was married to Marlin Miller on the last day of 1994. Their union created one big family made up of six adult children and spouses, plus 15 grandchildren.
Esther flourished and was most proud of her roles as godly wife, mother, stepmother, grandmother and great-grandmother, traveling seasonally between Ohio and California during their retirement years that preceded Marlin's death in 2012.
Her natural gift of hospitality and love for family paired perfectly with her love of baking. No one ever left Esther's home without the comfort of a full belly! Anyone who knew her has likely had the pleasure of tasting her famous cookies or quickly disappearing tapioca pudding.
To know Esther was to be blessed by her faithful prayers and her thoughtful ways. She exemplified generosity with her time, her prayers, her love and her baking.
The above-mentioned Romans passage ends, "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" and we are praising Jesus that she is now rejoicing in His physical presence for all eternity.
Services were held in California.
(special notice)