ESTHER TROSKEY Ethel Esther Troskey, age 84, died Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at her residence in Columbus, MS. Services will be held Friday, November 27 at 2:00 pm at Central United Methodist Church with Rev. Curtis Petrey of Petrey, AL and Rev. Jonathan Speegle of Columbus officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, November 26 from 5 until 7 pm at Memorial Funeral Home. Mrs. Troskey was born on April 3, 1925 in Clinton, Indiana to the late Andrew Benton Gunnoe and the late Anna Gunnoe Pepelea. Esther met her husband-to-be, Francis Thomas Troskey, in high school. They married while he was in the Navy at the end of WWII. They had three children, Gene Thomas, Janet Marie, and Philip Andrew. During the course of her life, Esther worked at two defense plants during WWII, was the secretary to the President of Hanover College, and, later, worked as a secretary at Mississippi State University. While working at MSU, she earned a Bachelors Degree in Sociology. She was the owner/manager of two bicycle shops, one in Columbus and one in Starkville, and is still known as the Bicycle Lady. Later, she became the secretary for her husbands business, Frank Troskey, Forest Manager and Consultant. Esther participated as a volunteer in various organizations throughout her life: Cub Scouts, the Pink Lady organization at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Columbus, Contact Crisis Center, and adult literacy. She was a fervent Christian and was a member of Central United Methodist Church for many years. Esther had a very full life. She had the companionship of her husband for over 62 years, and had a loving, caring relationship with her children, family members, extended family, and friends. She did work that she enjoyed and was fortunate enough to travel extensively. She was well-loved by all who knew her and was an unofficial wise counselor to more than a few troubled people. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by three brothers, and one sister. She is survived by her husband, their three children, ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, one brother, Dr. Charles Gunnoe of Corona, California, and one sister, Mabel Pugh of Clinton, Indiana. Pallbearers will be relatives and other loved ones. In lieu of flowers, we ask that memorials be made to Central United Methodist Church, 1201 College Street, Columbus, MS 39701, or Palmer Home for Children, P.O. Box 746, Columbus, MS 39703 or The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 8, Columbus, MS 39703.
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