Naomi Ebersole

Naomi Ebersole was born on July 23, 1928, and went to be with the Lord on July 1, 2023, at the age of 94. She is survived by her husband of 74 years, Ernest S. Ebersole, and five of her six children: Anna M. Gill of Meridian, ID; Ernest R. Ebersole of Chico, CA; Jay I. Ebersole of Fredericksburg, TX; Samuel E. Ebersole of Pueblo West, CO; and Joseph L. Ebersole of Corvallis, OR. James E. Ebersole, the fourth of six children, died of cancer in 1977. Naomi and Ernest have 21 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren.

Naomi Thomas was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to the late Jacob and Mary (Neff) Thomas. The fifth of five children, Naomi served as a school teacher after graduating from Lancaster Mennonite School. In 1949 she married Ernest S. Ebersole and became a homemaker, and soon a mother to their growing family. In later years she worked as a nurses’ aid at Lancaster Osteopathic Hospital where she served for many years in the maternity ward.

Naomi loved music and taught herself to play the piano, accordion, and harmonica. She would often accompany the children’s singing, whether in church or on a street corner where their music would draw a crowd for Ernest’s preaching. She was also an excellent cook and to this day we remember fondly her signature meal of Simple-Simon chicken, brown-butter noodles, and baby lima beans.

In addition to their years in Lancaster County, Naomi and Ernest lived in Madison, WI; Roanoke, VA; Fredericksburg, TX; and finally in Pueblo, CO where she will be buried at Mountain View Cemetery. For the past two years Naomi was lovingly cared for by the staff at the Sharmar Village Senior Care Community. A memorial service for Naomi will be held at Sharmar on Tuesday, July 11. Funeral services provided by Montgomery & Steward Funeral Directors.