Esther Smith Gober
December 2, 1919 – July 10, 2025
A memorial service for Esther Smith Gober will be held in the Magnolia Room at Magnolia Trace (1 Clubhouse Ave. SW, Huntsville, AL) on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at 4:00 p.m.
Mrs. Gober was predeceased by her husband, Lewis LaRon Gober, of 66 years. She attended Mississippi University for Women and Delta State University. While her husband was serving in the Army in WWII, from 1943-46, she worked at the Mississippi Ordnance Plant and U.S. Army Foster General Hospital in Jackson, Mississippi. From 1946 to 1951, she worked in bookkeeping at Coburg Dairy and I. M. Pearstine & Sons, Charleston, SC. In 1951, she accepted a position in the office, Chief of Ordnance in the Pentagon. In 1956, she relocated to the U.S. Army Ballistic Missile Agency in Huntsville, AL, as the Administrative Officer, Control Office. In 1964, she accepted the position of Administrative Officer, Saturn I/IB Program Office, Industrial Operations, Marshall Space Flight Center, NASA. In 1968, she accepted a position with the Automated Logistics Management Systems Agency, St. Louis, Missouri. She took early retirement in 1972 to care for her ailing father in Kosciusko, Mississippi. In 1981, she returned to Huntsville, AL.
Esther was a loving, caring wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She had a generous spirit and took delight in giving away her wonderful home cooking. She was known for her lemon extract cake, fruit cake, pecan pie, “smilies”, garden-fresh vegetables, and sweet iced tea. In addition to her many years of hospitality and entertaining, Esther enjoyed painting florals with watercolor. She loved Magnolia Trace and served as an ambassador there for many years.
After a remarkable life spanning more than 105 years, she was preceded in death by two brothers, Stuart Jr. and Henry, and five sisters, Mary, Elizabeth, Grace, Martha, and Kathryne. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Magnolia Trace Endowment Fund, 1 Clubhouse Ave. SW, Huntsville, AL 35802.
