Esther Oneda Harp

Esther Oneda Harp was born May 23, 1921 in Marshall, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Herman and Oma Bell Lay. Oneda moved at an early age with her family to Cleveland where she was raised and attended school. She later moved again with her family to Borger, Texas.

While in Borger, Oneda met and was later married to J. B. Harp on June 30, 1938. The couple made their initial home there and then moved to Pawhuska, Oklahoma for a few years before returning to Texas in Odessa. The couple raised two children, Thelma and Donald. While residing in Odessa, Oneda was employed as a bookkeeper for the J. M. McDonald Company for several years.

Upon their retirement in 1969 the couple returned to Cleveland where they made their home together until J. B. passed away on April 11, 1989. Oneda was a faithful and active member of the First Assembly of God Church. She often took ladies from the church to the doctor or wherever they needed to go. She assisted in the preparation of all the church dinners and was known throughout the Cleveland area for her pumpkin swirls, which were often sold during the holidays as a fund raiser for the church. She was known as a caring and compassionate Christian lady that was always available for her family and church family. She often assisted in the delivery of Meals on Wheels when her church was asked to deliver them. In addition to her obvious love for family and church family, Oneda enjoyed crocheting and cooking.

Oneda moved to Odessa a couple of years ago in order to live with her daughter, Thelma and her family. She passed away on Thursday, December 11, 2003 in Odessa at the age of eighty-two years, six months and ten days. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Lowell Lay.

Oneda is survived by her daughter and her husband, Thelma R. and Charles Handley of Odessa, Texas; son and his wife, Donald B. and Linda Harp of Huntsville, Alabama; two grandsons, Charles R. and Becca Handley of Pearland, Texas and Michael Harp of Huntsville, Alabama; one granddaughter and her husband; Melissa and Tim Anderson of Dallas, Texas; two great grandchildren, Morgan and Madison Handley, both of Pearland, Texas; and three sisters, Bernice Kent of Osage, Oklahoma; Naomi and Ed Wiseman of Cleveland, Oklahoma and Johnnie and Joe Garcia of Cleveland, Oklahoma.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, December 15, 2003 at the First Assembly of God Church with Pastor Dan Edens officiating. Musical selections will be sung by Dorothea Hendricks. Serving as pallbearers will be Cotton McClain, Kelby Edens, Jim Alburty, Melvin Leake, Steve Stephens and Joe Griffin. Burial will be at the Woodland Cemetery under the direction of the Chapman-Black Funeral Home.

Visit an online obituary and guestbook for Esther Oneda Harp at www.chapman-black.com.