Esther Owen

Esther Kathryn Stritter Owen, Miss Schenectady 1937, died Dec. 3 in Berlin, Germany, where she had travelled to celebrate her 95th birthday with a week of concerts and shopping. Esther was born Nov. 24, 1917, in Schenectady to Theresa Nak Stritter and Joseph Stritter Sr. She was a graduate of Nott Terrace High School and the Mildred Elley School. In the late 1930s and early '40s she sang with the Francis Murphy Orchestra at the Ten Eyck Hotel. She also sang in Schenectady Light Opera Company productions, including "Iolanthe" and "The Mikado."
Since 1956, Esther and her family had lived in Roanoke, Virginia, where she was active in the Thursday Morning Music Club and the choir at Calvary Baptist Church. She was predeceased by her husband, Nathaniel W. Owen; her brothers Joseph Stritter Jr. of Tampa, Florida, Frank Stritter of Cazenovia, and Anthony Stritter of Tampa. She is survived by her daughters, Kathryn Orth and her husband Geoffrey, of Farmville, Virginia, and Shelley Byrd and her husband David of Roanoke, Virginia; grandsons, Andrew N. Orth and his wife Katie, of Roanoke, and Timothy J. Orth and his wife Andrea, of Annapolis, Maryland; granddaughters, Kathryn Scott Byrd and Elizabeth Randall Byrd of Roanoke; and great-granddaughter Abigail Orth, as well as a number of devoted nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held Monday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m. at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Albany.