March 11, 1917 –  September 10, 2016 Edith Nell Esslinger, age 99, passed away Saturday, September 10, 2016. She was the daughter of Oscar Clarence Rhoades and Ola Johnston Rhoades. Graveside services will be at Mt. Carmel Cemetery Monday, September 12th at 2:00 P.M. Brother Royce Litchfield will be officiating; visitation will be prior to the service at 1:00 P.M. at R.W. Owens & Son Funeral Home.
Mrs. Esslinger married Lt. Col. John Oliver Pettay, USAF on December 12, 1946; he preceded her in death on December 31, 1953. She married Clayton Esslinger on of Washington, DC. October 18, 1984 who preceded her in death on February 17, 1986.

She received her education at Short Creek community, Wolfe City High School, a B.A. degree from East Texas State University and an M.A. from S.M.U. The last twenty-two years of teaching were spent at James B. Bonham Elementary in Dallas. She was a member Delta Kappa Gamma International.

She was preceded in death by her sister and husband, Fay and Charlie Brignon and her brother and wife, Dwight and Orene Rhoades, and nephew John McNabb. She is survived by one sister, Ruth Arnold, nephew, Jimmie Brignon and wife, Debra, great-nephew Brit Brignon and wife Mandy, great-niece, Linda Milton and husband Larry, niece, Mary Dwilene Korby and husband, Steve and niece Sophie Dowling and husband Charles.