Esther G. Chambers, 92, died on August 10, 2016, at Baptist Health Center in Paducah after a short illness. She was born on July 4, 1924, in Monroe County, Indiana. The daughter of a barber and a practical nurse, Esther grew up in Brown County, Indiana, and in Bloomington, Indiana. She graduated from Bloomington High School in 1942. Upon graduation from high school, she began working at the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) plant in Bloomington where she was a supervisor. Her workers produced radios for use in World War II. One of her coworkers, Bonnie Chambers, arranged a blind date for her brother, Harry Lee Chambers, who was in the Army Air Corps, and Esther. Early in the day before their blind date, Harry arrived late with grease on his face and clothes. He had been working with his father to restore a car engine. Despite Harry's lateness and his grease-stained appearance, Esther went with Harry on their first date to Riverside amusement park in Indianapolis. They married in Yuma, AZ on September 15, 1945, near the end of World War II. She soon learned that Harry was a "grease monkey" and would work on car motors their entire married life. After the war ended, Esther and Harry lived in various cities in Indiana where Harry worked for Public Service Company of Indiana, generating electrical energy. In 1952 Harry accepted a position at Electric Energy, Inc. (EEI) in Joppa and moved his family to Metropolis. Esther was a homemaker and morally supported her family throughout the years. Her favorite hobby was sharing a cup of coffee with one of her many neighborhood friends on Marberry Drive. Esther was a devoted mother of five, grandmother of 13, and great-grandmother of 12. She served in the PTA, worked as a band booster, and supported her daughters' cheerleading while her children were growing up. She later volunteered for the McTuff Teen Center in Metropolis. She was an assistant Girl Scout leader for Phyllis Sullivan for eight years and also chaperoned many children's events and trips sponsored by her church, Girl Scouts and 4-H. She was a member of First United Methodist Church where she taught a Sunday school class for kindergarteners for 35 years. She was also a member of the Metropolis Woman's Club. She sang with the Mammaettes, a group of women whose husbands worked at EEI. She enjoyed bowling in an afternoon women's league. After Harry's retirement Esther enjoyed traveling with her husband and trips with grandchildren. She loved serving her community by working with elderly friends and taking them for weekly lunches. She liked being with family and friends and welcoming great-grandchildren into the family. Over the years many people commented on how kind and sweet Esther was. Born on the Fourth of July, Esther often called herself the firecracker girl. Numerous nieces and nephews referred to her as "Aunt Essie." Her husband often called her "Ess." She especially enjoyed being called "Mom" and "Grandma." Esther is survived by four daughters, Diana Douglas, Madonna Foster, Deborah Chambers and Darla (Tom) Mittendorf. She is also survived by nine grandsons, Stephen Douglas, Cory Douglas, Jemal (Nikki) Beggs, Collin (Mandi) Foster, Derek (Stefanie) Foster, Jason (Laura) Hayes, Joshua (Amy) Hayes, Levi (Julia) Loverkamp and Isaac (Emma) Mittendorf, four granddaughters, Dominique (Jay) Seymoure, Heather (Alex) Atkinson, Tracy Douglas and Kathleen Mittendorf, and 12 great grandchildren. She is also survived by one brother, Roger (Betty) Hopper of Indianapolis, IN. She was preceded in death by her parents, her only son, Stephen L. Chambers, her husband Harry of nearly 69 years and her son-in-law Larry A. Douglas. Visitation for Esther will be Friday from 6-8 p.m. at Aikins-Farmer Funeral Home. Her funeral will be on Saturday at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. The Revs. Jon Cockrel and Shalom Renner will officiate. Burial will follow in the Metropolis Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be sent to the Robert Femmer Memorial Fund or the Phyllis W. Sullivan Memorial Scholarship Fund at First United Methodist Church, 100 E. Fifth Street, Metropolis, IL 62960. Online condolences may be left at www.aikinsfarmer-millerfh.com.

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