INDIANAPOLIS – Esther E. (Johnson) Hawkins, 92, was born March 11, 1933, and passed away at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, on July 6, 2025.
Esther was the third of five children born to Norman and Fay (Stephenson) Johnson of Leipsic, IN. She graduated as valedictorian of her class at Orleans High School in 1951. Esther went on to attend and graduate from Purdue University’s School of Pharmacy. Esther was one of 10 women in her graduating class entering a male-dominated STEM field – truly ground-breaking!
After graduating from Purdue and a short stent working as a pharmacist in Kokomo, IN, Esther started working at the drugstore in Orleans, IN. It was at this drugstore that she met her husband, Dale Hawkins. They married on June 7, 1957. Shortly thereafter, they purchased Orleans Pharmacy and operated it for nearly 40 years.
While living in Orleans, Esther and Dale raised three children and influenced countless others as local teenagers came to work in their store through the years. Esther loved the small-town life and was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, later joining First Baptist Church in Mitchell, Tri Kappa, and holding various positions in county politics. During her life in Orleans, Esther built a network of friendships that lasted a lifetime. There are many cherished memories of the Roosevelt Street neighbors and later her Woodlawn Village neighbors, and the parties and gatherings after ballgames and during the holidays.
After retiring and selling the store, Esther and Dale moved to Indianapolis. Esther enjoyed her time working at Mr. E’s Hallmark Store and traveling throughout the United States. After her second “retirement” Esther loved spending time with her neighbors and other friends she developed. After living in her house for several years, Esther moved to Marquette Manor in 2019 where she lived independently until her death. While at Marquette, Esther developed many close friendships and participated in managing absentee voting registration for elections and serving on various committees.
Esther is survived by her children Steve (Susan), Laura (David) Fox, and Sarah (John) Sarber; her grandchildren, Andrew (Beth) Hawkins and Allison Hawkins, Sarah (Rob) Fox Boland and Caroline Fox; and great-grandchildren Brooks Hawkins and Hugh Boland; bonus daughters Kathy and Angie Luessow and Karen Luessow; and bonus- grandchildren Henry and Harper Luessow. Esther is also survived by her sister, Wanda Carroll and brother, Bill (Leon) Johnson and countless nieces, nephews and cousins that she loved very much.
Esther is preceded in death by her loving husband, Dale, her parents, and brothers LaRue Johnson and Frank Johnson, sisters-in-law Shirley Johnson, Jeneane Johnson and Martha Hawkins, brothers-in-law Jim Carroll, Harold Hawkins and Everett Gilliatt, nieces Diane Rosenbaum and Marcy McNally, nephews Mike Johnson and David Hawkins, and great-nephew Nathan Elliott.
Funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 14, in the Memorial Chapel of Chastain Funeral Home & Cremation Center with Pastor Phillip McDonald officiating. Burial will be at Liberty Christian Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Sunday, July 13, and from 9:30 a.m. until the service on Monday at the funeral home.
A Tri Kappa memorial service will be at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider a donation in Esther’s memory to the Orleans Tri Kappa Eta Chapter, the Purdue School of Pharmacy through the Purdue Foundation or the Orleans Community Schools Foundation for the General Scholarship Fund.
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