Esther Balfour Oshman passed away on January 28, 2015. She was born on February 15, 1923 in Steubenville, Ohio to Sarah and Marcus Balfour. In 1939, she graduated as the valedictorian of Steubenville High School at the age of 16, having skipped two years of school. She then attended Ohio University where she was awarded an academic scholarship for all of her four years in college, graduating in 1943 summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Upon graduation, she held several jobs in the food industry and joined the staff of the Cleveland Ohio public schools as the youngest dietician in the school system. She served in that capacity until early 1954 when she married the love of her life, Ben J. Oshman, and moved to join him in Wharton, Texas. She was at Ben's side in all his business interests, acting as bookkeeper in his wholesale grocery business, as a licensed realtor in his real estate brokerage business and later working side-by-side with him in his real estate development business.
The most important part of her life, however, was her family. In addition to being a loving wife, Esther was a devoted mother to her two sons, Norman and Gene, a loving mother-in-law to Karen, and an adoring grandmother to Stephen and Katherine. She and her husband Ben moved to Houston, Texas, in 1991 to be near their children and grandchildren and there they soon found a new and devoted group of friends. Esther had many interests and many friends and was an avid and accomplished bridge player and member of numerous bridge groups. She was a life member of Hadassah, president of the Wharton Chapter of Hadassah, an active member of Congregation Shearith Israel of Wharton and president of its Sisterhood, and later a member of Congregation Emanu El of Houston.
Esther is preceded in death by her husband Ben, her brother Ed, her sister Irma and son Norman. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law Gene and Karen Oshman of Houston, grandson Stephen Oshman of New York, New York, and granddaughter Katherine Oshman of St. Louis, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the charity of your choice or to the Norman B. Oshman Endowed Presidential Scholarship Fund, c/o The University of Texas Moody College of Communication, 300 West Dean Keaton St., A0900, Austin, Texas 78712
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
February 1, 2015
Barry Hargrove
February 1, 2015
Jim Billings
Esther Oshman is the most gracious and lovely person I have ever known. She poured her soul into raising Norman and Gene, and did a fine job of it. The world is not as bright without her peaceful, benevolent presence.
January 31, 2015
I will miss my sweet Great Aunt Este. She had a wonderful smile and always a kind word for others. Alisha Risch
January 31, 2015
My sympathy to the family for their loss. May the God of all Comfort be with you in this time of sorrow.
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