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Esther Racht of Lake Ariel passed away Saturday at the Guthrie Robert Packard hospital located in Sayre, PA.

Esther was born June 7th, 1931, in Beach Lake to the late Aldace and Henrietta Olver.   She passed three days shy of her ninety-first birthday.  She was a graduate of Honesdale High School.   Esther left home at the age of 16 and attended Honesdale High School, while working at Katz’s in Honesdale.  She then moved to New York City where she worked as a nanny for two years before enlisting in the United States Navy.  She served our nation honorably for four years as a Hospital Corpsman during the later stages of the Korean War at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital.  She met her husband Robert Racht, of Waymart, while in the service and started her family.  Upon her return to Wayne County Esther worked as a cook for many years, most notably at the former Maple City Restaurant as well as several other restaurants in the area.  She loved dancing, traveling and her kitties.  Her favorite phrase was “whatchamacallit” and was well known for her honesty and straightforwardness.  You can be sure that you knew exactly where you stood with her.

Surviving her are her children Carmen Fanning and her husband Paul of Spencer, New York; Peter Racht of Lake Ariel; Martyn Racht and his wife Peggy of St. Helens, Oregon; Lisa Histed and her husband Jim of Lake Ariel; and Mary Garnett and her husband Daniel of Waymart.  She has a sister Florence Utegg of Lake Ariel as well as sisters-in laws Lucy Olver and Debbie Olver also surviving her.  She has thirteen grandchildren Autumn, John, Joe and Ruth Fanning; Nicole and David Racht; Adam, Robert, James and Sally Histed; Danny, Desirae and Brandon Garnett; and ten great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by brothers Vernon, Leon, Tom, Mike, Jerald, Arther, and Paul Olver.

A blessing service will be held Monday June 20^th at 11am in the James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel.  Friends may call Monday from 10 am until the time of the service. Interment with military honors, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to Women Veterans ROCK,  an organization whose mission is to help female veterans in the areas of housing, employment, education, financial security, stability and health & wellness.