Esther Schwab

Obituary

Esther Rodriguez Schwab passed from Houston, Texas to Heaven on November 10, 2025 at the age of 95. She was born in Houston on August 13,1930 to Ramon and Rafaela Rodriguez. Esther was second to the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Milby High School and was in the drum and bugle core.

Esther met David Schwab in Houston during the summer of 1950. Dave, from Minnesota, was visiting cousins in Houston. They were married November 2, 1950 and moved to Willmar, Minnesota. Their first child, Cindy Kay, was born in Minnesota yet Esther did not like cold winters so they moved to Houston purchasing a house in the Galleria area. Their home quickly became full with five other children: David Jr., Carol, Craig, Charlie, and Curt all born close together.

Esther and Dave were charter members of Westminister Methodist Church in Houston. They were active in the choir, leaders in the youth Sunday School and Methodist Youth Fellowship, and they attended Bible Study Fellowship. They also traveled to other churches with the family to share their testimonies through the Lay Witness Mission.

Esther had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and read her bible or a devotional every night. Each morning, she would wake her children saying "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it ". Esther also had a firm belief in the power of prayer. When her son Craig was to have brain surgery, she called prayer groups in Houston to pray for his healing and had a garage sale asking each person who came to pray. Craig miraculously did not need the surgery.

Esther had an amazing artistic talent. She studied with famous artists and loved to paint landscapes with bluebonnets and old barns or landscapes with Aspen trees. Her clouds were a highlight of her paintings. She sold paintings at art shows and exhibits and traded her paintings for services for her children... like piano lessons. She also loved to paint from photos she took on trips to New Zealand, Canada, Hawaii, Singapore, Spain and other countries in Europe.

Esther was a homemaker until 1972 when she began working in Houston as an executive secretary at Scurlock Oil and at Bechtel. In 1983, Esther and Dave moved to their county home in Shiro, Texas where Esther worked for TMPA as the executive secretary to the plant manager, participated in the Navasota Theatre, loved to garden, and painted in her studio above the garage. While living at "the farm", Esther hosted several memorable family gatherings such as Christmas celebrations including pinatas filled with candy and money and performances of live country music. After David passed away in 2001, she remained in Shiro by herself for 10 years feeling safe having obtained her concealed weapons permit.

Esther moved to Houston to be closer to family and attended Bridgepoint Bible church with her daughter, Carol. She went on retreats, participated in the Keenagers program and prayed daily for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren asking God to protect them. Esther remained in her home in Houston until she passed away. The last 2 ½ years she had wonderful caregivers during the week and her children cared for her on the weekends.

Esther was preceded in death by her parents, her four brothers: David, Ralph, Alex and Arthur Rodgriguez, her sister, Ruth Fruge, her husband, Carl David Schwab, Sr, and her sons Curt and her son Craig. She is survived by her brother Abe Rodriguez, her children: Cindy Price, Carl David Schwab, Jr. and his wife Pam, Carol Wolitarsky and her husband Bruce, Charlie Schwab and his wife Cindy, 15 grandchildren, and 25 great grandchildren.

Services will be held on Friday, November 21 at Christ Presbyterian Church, 8300 Katy Freeway. A viewing will be from 9:30 - 10:30 and the service starts at 11:00. A family burial will follow the service in Carlos, Texas at Pleasant Hill Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to:

Tool Box Ministry, P.O. Box 79646, Houston, Tx 77279

OR

Global Pastor Training, 400 N. Sam Houston Parkway E, Suite 1000, Houston Tx 77060