Esther Heims, 79, 613 W. Harrison, Monticello, died Sunday, July 31, in Tioga Pines Living Center. She had been in failing health for five months.

She was born September 5, 1914 in Chalmers to William E. and Lettie MaCurdy Heims.

She moved from Chalmers to Monticello in 1945.

She was school teacher for 40 years in Monticello and Union Township schools. She taught in the Twin Lakes School Corp. for 33 years before retiring in 1976.

Her extensive community volun teer work earned her the Herald Journal Volunteer of the Year award in 1990. She helped organize and served as the first president of the Monticello Classroom Teachers Association.

She was a member and elder of the Monticello Christian Church where she had been a member of the choir since 1946. She was also a member, group leader and past president of the Christian Women's Fellowship of the church and member of the XYZ Club. She served the church as primary department superintendent and as chairman of the worship and education committees. She also was the church's financial secretary for several years.

She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma International, White County Retired Teachers Association, Indiana Retired Teachers Association and the National Retired Teachers Association. She was also a member of the Jolly Unison Extension Homemakers Club, and Pi Lambda Theta.

Surviving are one brother, William H. Heims of Monticello; one niece, Nancy Gunvalsen of Sun City, CA; three great-nieces and one great-nephew.

Funeral services were conducted Wednesday in Voorhis-Draper Funeral Home, the Rev. Donald Arterburn officiated.

Burial was in Chalmers Cemetery.