Clara Esther Harbert, a long-time resident of Bridgeport, WV, died Tuesday, January 20, 2015 at Ocean Trail Convalescent Center, Southport, NC. She was 88 years old.

Esther was born April 26, 1926, in Brown, WV, daughter of Shelby Robinson and Ethel McCullough Robinson. Esther graduated from Wallace High School in 1945. She married Paul Edward Harbert in October 1945. At the time of his death on May 6, 2014, they had been married for more than 68 years.

Esther is survived by her five children, Paula Spaulding and her husband Paul Glenn, Charleston, WV; Susan Watson and her husband Herbert, Conroe, TX; Rebecca Willis and her husband J.B., Charleston, WV; Paul Harbert II, and his wife Jo Ellen, Glen Allen, VA; and Marsha Garofolo and her husband, Philip, Saint James, NC. Esther also leaves her 12 grandchildren: Gwen Spaulding Gagne, Amy Spaulding DeWolfe, Lisa Spaulding Kessler, David Spaulding, Alan Watson, Adam Watson, Dr. James Willis, Robert Willis, Andrew Harbert, Nicole Harbert, Natalie Taylor Wolfe, and Nicholas Taylor. Esther leaves 11 great-grandchildren: Claire, Anna, Audrey, Andrew and Jonah Gagne; Brooke and Ashley DeWolfe; Alyssa and Emily Kessler, and Alyssa and Lincoln Willis; and her sister, Lillian Crosby of New York, NY; brothers Shellis Robinson of Lumberport, WV, and Warren Robinson of Haywood, WV

Esther served in many capacities in over 20 years as an active member of the First Baptist Church of Chelyan, WV. She was a Sunday School teacher, a Baptist Youth Fellowship leader, Deaconess, President of American Baptist Women, Chelyan. She was active in the Parent Teachers Association at Cabin Creek Mission School for many years, a member of the Band Boosters at Chelyan Junior High School and East Bank High School, a Girl Scout leader, and a Den Mother for the Boy Scouts. She also actively served at Simpson Creek Baptist Church, Bridgeport, WV, as President of American Baptist Women, Simpson Creek, Circle Chairperson, and in various other roles. Esther traveled on church sponsored mission trips to Mexico, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Arizona, and Alaska. She also traveled extensively with her husband, Paul, visiting many countries. Esther's hobbies included cake decorating, oil painting, quilting and sewing. She was passionate about her faith, her family, and her friends, and loved helping others.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Alzheimer's Association, WV Chapter, 1299 Pineview Drive, Suite 3, Morgantown, WV 26505.

Friends will be received at Burnside Funeral Home, 607 S Virginia Ave, Bridgeport, on Friday from 5-8 p.m., where services will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 24, 2015 with Reverend Dr. C. Michael Hopkins presiding. Entombment will follow in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Quiet Dell.
Burnside Funeral Home, Bridgeport