Agnes Laura Eslinger

A lifetime of family, travel and reading. Agnes was the oldest of four children. Born at home, in Ash Grove Kansas. Lincoln County December 9, 1930. Born to Napoleon and Opal (Ford) Crandall. She joined them in Heaven on March 29, 2017, from her home at Vintage Place in Derby, Kansas with Good Shepherd hospice care.

Her Father, Nap, worked running grain elevators full time, but he also bought and sold houses that needed a lot of fixing up. He would buy one fix them while his family lived there then sell it and buy another one. Consequently, Agnes and family moved 16 times to eight different towns all over North Central Kansas from the time she was born until she was a senior in high school. She and her brothers spent a lot of time roller skating, playing card games, and Agnes said you could always find her reading a book. Because they moved so often, it was hard to make and keep close friends, so Agnes took to reading.which she still loved to do. Agnes went to 3 different high schools and graduated from Hunter High School in 1948 with 14 classmates. She married her high school sweetheart and classmate, Eldon Eslinger in August that same year.

Her husband was a farmer and they moved to a rented farm with no electricity or running water. Fortunately they moved to a house in Lincoln before the third child was born. They moved to Osborne County after number after the fourth child arrived in 1962. In 1967 her husband got a job working for the Derby School system so they moved to Wichita, (Oaklawn). That fall she was hired by the Post Office in Wichita as a distribution Clerk working the grave yard shift, sorting the mail at the main Post Office Downtown. Three years later she was divorced, and moved to Derby, KS.

Agnes retired from the US Postal Service at the end of 1990 with 23 years of civil service. She moved to Sylvan Grove, KS, just a few miles from where she was born, where she joined the Senior Center and served as the Secretary/Treasurer for several years. She started playing Bingo on a regular basis. In 2007 her eye sight was failing and she could no longer see to write, sew, or drive. She had cataract surgery which partially restored her sight. In 2010 she moved back to Derby to be closer to her children. Then 2011 she could no longer drive and had to start dialysis treatments 3 times a week. She moved in with daughter Sharlene and her Husband Gary Shaffer. Her Grandson Gene was her main chauffeur, and did an excellent job of keeping her on the go, taking her for the dialysis treatments, doctor appointments and to Senior Center almost every day.

Agnes enjoyed playing all manner of cards games, except Bridge and Poker. Recently her favorite games were 3-13 rummy and cribbage. She also enjoyed Dominoes and Rummy Cube. Ever since her retirement she loved playing bingo and did so every chance it was offered. An avid quilter, she made countless quilts for family and friends. Many with detailed patterns all stitched by hand. For years she collected Avon bottles, salt and pepper shakers and every romance novel she had ever read -- literally thousands of them.

Agnes had traveled with her family throughout the United States, most often visiting family members. One time they traveled to Georgia to visit an uncle, and 2 year old Vernon had to sleep in the bathtub. She has been to Disneyland in California, and to the Black Hills, South Dakota where her 6 week old grandson Gene, slept in a dresser drawer. Also she has traveled to Yellowstone National Park, the Redwood Forest, Colorado, Texas, Las Vegas, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Washington State. Her favorite vacations were simply camping in her fold out tent camper at a lake in Kansas by herself or with family, cooking on an open fire, without television, or telephone and a good book in hand.

Agnes is survived by Son Vernon (Diane) Andover, MN and Daughter Sharlene (Gary) Shaffer, Derby, KS; Three Grandchildren Al (Lisa) Wright Halstead KS, Laura (Mark) Malcom, Halstead, KS, and Ernest EuGENE Barshney III, of Derby, Step-grandchildren Richard Atwood, Wichita, Steve (Janna) Atwood Wichita, Michael (Elizabeth) Waters, MI. Michelle (Brent) Cook Blaine, MN

Preceded in death by parents Nap and Opal (Ford) Crandall, Brothers Charles, Eugene and Howard Crandall, Daughters Marolyn Kay Atwood, and Beverly Jolene Williamson.

A memorial service has taken place Smith Mortuary Chapel on March 31, 2017 in Derby KS officiated by Rev. Alan Lindal

An informal memorial service is planned for Sunday April 9. 2017 VFW Hall, 144 S 4th St.,Lincoln KS, at 1:00 PM followed by interment at Round Springs Township Cemetery, Mitchell County, Kansas.

Memorials have been established with:

Derby Senior Center (BINGO)

611 N Mulberry RD. # 100

Derby, Kansas 67037

And The Derby Historical Museum

208 N Westview Dr.

Derby, Kansas 67037