Rebecca Lounette Eslinger, 83, of State College, PA., went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 24, 2006, at The Fairways at Brookline Village in State College.
She was born June 5, 1922 in Jackson, GA., the daughter of the late Walter D. Pope and Rebecca Knowles Pope. On Dec 26, 1947 she married Irvin C. Eslinger, who preceded her in death.
She graduated from Jackson High School, Jackson, GA. and the Federal Aviation Communication School in Atlanta, GA. She worked for the FAA as an aircraft communicator, the Bendix Corporation, NIBCO, retired from the Bayer Corporation (Miles Laboratories) in Elkhart, IN., and was a home maker. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Elkhart, IN. Best known for her love of people, she also enjoyed word search puzzles and talking books.
She is survived by a son, Steven Eslinger and his wife Kay, of State College, PA.; a step-daughter, Margaret Mitschelen of Elkhart, IN.; a brother, Sam F. Pope and his wife Betty, of Jackson, GA.; four step-grandchildren, Brian and Gary Mitschelen, Lisa Etling and Julie DuVall; and eight step-great grandchildren.
In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by one step-son, Thomas Eslinger and one step-son-in-law, Glen Mitschelen, both of Elkhart IN.; two sisters, Fannie Calloway and Ruth Sellers of Jackson GA.; and five brothers, John, O.B., and Walter Jr. Pope, all of Jackson, GA., Lawrence Pope of Atlanta, GA and Harris Pope of Thomasville, GA..
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m., February 12, 2006, at The State College Evangelical Free Church, 1243 Blue Course Drive, State College, PA. A second memorial service will be held in the spring at the First Baptist Church in Elkhart, IN. Burial will be at the convenience of the family at Prairie Street Cemetery, Elkhart IN.
In place of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the State College Evangelical Free Church, 1243 Blue Course Drive, State College, PA. 16801; First Baptist Church, 53953 CR 17, Bristol, IN. 46507; or "The Carnegie Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped", c/o Kathleen Kappel, 4724 Baum Blvd., Pittsburgh, PA. 15213.