Esther Pearl (Barnhart) McBride

McBride, Esther Pearl Barnhart, 93,
joined Jesus on December 26, 2017 in Rio Rancho NM. Esther loved God. She served God by loving and serving people.
Esther is survived by her many beloved nieces and nephews:  *BOOSTER: Ruth, Sara Ruth, David Mark. *BARNHART: Franklin Warner, Michael Adrian, Donald Philip, Don Philip, Alex, Matthew, John Luther, Benjamin Joseph, Katheryn Elaine, Elias Gideon, Daniel Tobias, Abraham Josiah, Jonathan Gabriel. Ruth Elaine, Rachael Elaine.* JOHNSON: Keith, Robert, Kathy Denise. *MALVESTUTO: Grant, Shelby. Gaynee Marie YARBERRY, Cynthia Johnson MITALAS, Rita Clara MILLS, Leisa Anne KNIGHT.

The BENHAM Family: step-daughter, Conchetta McBride Benham and her husband, Paul George Benham and four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. *Melissa Renee Benham-Cunningham and husband, Brent Cunningham; and great-grandchildren, Mina Natalia (10) and Jules Walter (4). *Christopher Paul Benham. *Ian George Benham and Brittany and great-grandchildren, Princeton Ian (7) and Phoenix Ivy (5). *Jordan Riley and Bryanna and great – granddaughter, Ryleigh (3 months).

*Esther’s honorary family, “The TEAM” that cared for her at Torrey Pines Elder Care are Ivanna K, Liliya R, Sonya M, Doug S, Joel S, Zita D, Natalia D, Francisco B, Bill R, Elizabeth Z, Tamara G, Tami T, Virginia Wilcox and so many others. She and Jewel Lee McBride were married for 41 years. She served as a Teaching Missionary for the Lutheran Church in Japan for 14 years. She held 4 Degrees.

*Esther is the youngest daughter of Clara Ruth (Thielbar) and Charles Anthony Barnhart both professors at University of New Mexico.
*Esther was born in Albuquerque New Mexico in 1924 and graduated Albuquerque High School in 1940. She attended the University of New Mexico 1940-42. She won the Phi Kappa Phi award for best female student.
*At 18 she was selected to teach mathematics and Spanish at the Spanish Mountainair HS in NM 1942-43. In 1943 she returned to the University of NM and received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education Mathematics with distinction on 10/25/1944. She was elected to membership in Phrateres, an international organization for women; the Mathematics Honor Society; Kappa Mu Epsilon; Phi Lambda Theta, the Women’s Honor Society and Phi Kappa Phi.
*In 1944-45 she taught mathematics at Belen High School in NM.
*She went on to attend the University of Michigan and received her Master of Arts in Mathematics on June 14, 1947and her Master of Social Work on August 16, 1947.
*Esther attended Biblical Seminary in NYC 1949-50.
*She then attended Yale University Japanese Language School 1950-51.
*In 1951 she was commissioned by the United Lutheran Church in America as a missionary teacher she dedicated her life in God’s service to the people in Kumamoto Japan for 14 years.
*When returning to the United States she accepted a teaching position at Tulane University in New Orleans LA. There she met Jewel Lee McBride. They married on January 21, 1970.
*She continued her studies and on May 22, 1972 she received her Doctor of Philosophy degree and became the Dean of the Department of Social Work at Tulane University.
*Upon retiring Esther and Jewel built their home in Rio Rancho NM. They attended St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church where she joined the Daughters of the King, a sisterhood of women dedicated to a life of Prayer, Service and Evangelism. She was also very active in the University of New Mexico Alumni organization. And when they weren’t traveling, visiting friends or hosting guests Esther used her green thumb to make flowers grow in the dessert soil of her garden.
*She wrote and published her book, The Open Church; History of an Idea in 1983.
*She was often called upon to be an interpreter at United Nations meetings in NYC.

Her humility, sense of adventure and fun, love for people, grasp of politics, culture and learning and her love for God endeared her to all who met her. Even with Alzheimer’s her motto was “just keep on going”.

*She will be buried next to her husband Jewel Lee Mc Bride who passed away May 1, 2011.

MEMORIAL SERVICE January 6, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church, 2903 Cabezon Blvd SE Rio Rancho 87124
INTERMENT to follow 1:00 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Park at 924 Menaul Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM.
A MEMORIAL RECEPTION will be held 2:00 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church.