ONEONTA - Esther B. Bresee, a lifelong resident of Oneonta died peacefully Monday morning October 4th 2010. She was a resident of the Masonic Care Community in Utica, NY.

Esther was born in Oneonta on November 10th 1910. She would have celebrated her 100th birthday this November.

Esther was the daughter of Stanley Eugene Bartold and Jesse Maud Bedford Bartold. She graduated from Oneonta High School in 1928 and from the State Normal School in 1931, after which she taught school in Long Island.

In 1935 she married Wilmer E. Bresee, who predeceased her in 1997.

Esther was a dedicated volunteer for many pre war organizations including, The Salvation Army, Red Cross, British War Relief and the Chinese War Relief. During World War II she traveled with Wilmer to his many stations with the Army Air Corp.

Other activities that Esther loved were as a soloist with the First United Methodist Church and member of the choir. She was long standing member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a member of the Oneonta Federated Women's Club and past president of Oneonta Federated Garden Club. Esther was a charter member and early president of the New York State Chapter B.H. Oneonta P.E.O. Sisterhood. She was a member of Fox Hospital Auxiliary, chairman of the Oneonta Concert Association for two years and a charter member of the SUCO Foundation Board. Esther was an honorary member of Rotary and received the prestigious Paul Harris award and she was a founding member of The Greater Oneonta Historical Society.

There will be a memorial service at a later date to celebrate her life at the discretion of the family.

Expressions of sympathy in the form of memorial gifts may be made to The Greater Oneonta Historical Society, P.O. Box 814, Oneonta, NY 13820.

Online condolences may be sent to, www.lhpfuneralhome.com

The Lewis, Hurley & Pietrobono Funeral Home, 51 Dietz St., Oneonta, is serving the family.