Esther Owle Waldroup, 73, of the Birdtown Community went home to be with the Lord Saturday, March 31, 2012. A longtime resident of Cherokee, she was the daughter of the late Rev. Dewitt Owle and wife Eva McCoy Owle. She was also preceded in death by two brothers Grady MacArthur Owle and James Michael Owle, and two sisters, Bessie Owle Long and Jessie Owle Dugan. She was a lifetime Member of Bethabara Baptist Church, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and retired as a Licensed Practical Nurse. Her greatest accomplishments were being a great Christian Wife, Mother, and Grandmother.
She is survived by her husband of 57 years Edgar (Buddy)Waldroup, two sons, William (Bill) Waldroup and Brian Waldroup both of Cherokee, four daughters, Barbara W. Miller, Aneva Turtle Hagberg, Debra W. Chiltoskie and husband Wyatt all of Cherokee and Jennifer Garafola and husband Joe of Galatin, Tennessee, two foster sons, Calvin (Ed) Walkingstick and Freddie Pennick both of Cherokee, one foster daughter Alysia (Red) Soldier of Cherokee, three brothers, William (Paul) Owle, Dale Roland, and Robert (Bob) Owle all of Cherokee, two sisters Frances Owle Arneach and Elizabeth Owle Crowe both of Cherokee, 17 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, a very special caregiver Connie (Gus) Waldroup, and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Pallbearers will be nephews John Dewitt Long, Ray B. Long, Albert Dewitt Crowe, Gene (Tunney) Crowe, George (Curtis) Arneach and John Waldroup.
Honorary Pallbearers will be James (Jamie) Long, Christopher Waldroup, Joshua (Snapper) Turtle, Chadwick (Chad) George, Lehman Coday, and Eddie Dehart.
Funeral Services will be held 11:00 AM Tuesday April 3, 2012 at Bethabara Baptist Church. Revs. James (Bo) Parris, Jeff Waldroup, James (Red) Bradley, Merritt Youngdeer, and Duke Pickup will officiate with burial in the Birdtown Cemetery.
The body will be taken back to the church at 4:00 PM Monday to await the hour of service.
The family will be at the residence on Goose Creek Road.
An online register is available at www.crispfuneralhome.org