Esther Armstrong Watt

Esther Armstrong Watt, resident of Willow Valley Manor North Retirement Community, died August 11, 2024. Esther May Armstrong was born May 18, 1931 at her grandparents’ farmhouse in Martic Township, Holtwood, Pennsylvania. She attended Crystal Brook School, a one-room, eight-grades, public school in Holtwood and graduated from Penn Manor High School in 1949, where she was a member of the National Honor Society. She received her Bachelor of Music Degree from West Chester University, a Masters degree in Education, and a Supervisor’s Certificate from Millersville University. She completed graduate studies at Penn State and Shippensburg Universities.  

Before moving to Willow Valley, she resided at 1818 Anne Avenue, Lancaster. As a Vocal Music teacher, she retired as the chairperson of the Ephrata Area School District Music department. Her career in public vocal Music spanned thirty years. In 1987-88, Esther was named to “Who’s Who in American Education.” 

She was a member of the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Lancaster-Lebanon Music Educators and a Member Emeritus of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees. Articles she wrote were published in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Journal. In May, 1999, she was the recipient of The Distinguished Service Award from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association.  

As president of the Lancaster Business and Professional Women’s Club, she was its representative on the planning committee for The Women’s Pavilion at Lancaster at Lancaster General Hospital. For ten years, she conducted the Senior Choir and Orchestra of the Lititz Moravian Congregation. In 1973, the choir made its first two-record album of a concert of Moravian pieces with Esther conducting. While a member of Highland Presbyterian Church, she sang in the Senior Choir and was ordained as a Deacon. At the time of her death, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Lancaster.  

She sang with The Lancaster Symphony Chorus for fifteen years and taught private piano lessons in her home. After retiring, she joined Opera Lancaster as a rehearsal accompanist and performed as a singer and dancer at The Fulton Opera House in its production of “Tenderland.” As president of Opera Lancaster Associates, she assisted in introducing and planning The Lemonade Concert Summer Series.  

Esther frequently sang solos and accompanied herself on the piano for Willow Valley Sunday evening Vespers. In 2003, she founded The Willow Valley Cultural Center Community Chorale. She conducted the premiere performance of fifty singers for the dedication of The Cultural Center. Over a ten-year period of performing Spring and Christmas concerts, the group grew to ninety-five singers. “Watt-A-Quintet,” an instrumental group founded by Esther, performed at events on the Willow Valley campuses. 

Esther and her husband David were avid ballroom dancers and served as presidents of The Caper Club Ballroom Dancers organization.  

She was the daughter of the late B. Mildred and Clarence W. Armstrong. Her sister, Elsie C. Armstrong died in the 1958 KLM plane crash. She is survived by three daughters: Darla Bair, Lancaster; Wendy Dion, wife of Danial Walker, Seattle, Washington; Heidi Bair, wife of Frederic Fluke, Lancaster; two granddaughters: Molly Sotherden, Dayton, Ohio; Emily John, wife of Dr. James John and a great-grandson Oliver of Queens, New York. She has four stepchildren: Stanley Watt and Don Watt, husband of Kristine, who both predeceased Esther, Ted Watt, and Kathy, wife of Ralph Bisonic. Esther was predeceased by her husband, Major David S. Watt, USAF. 

Friends and relatives are cordially invited to a Memorial Service in the Auditorium at Willow Valley Manor North, 600 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster, PA on Saturday, August 31st, 2024 at 11:00 AM.  Interment will follow at Bethesda Methodist Church cemetery, Holtwood. Donations can be made in Esther’s memory to the Bethesda Methodist Church, which was her family’s church.