Esther Johnson

Cobleskill- Mrs. Esther R. Dargie Johnson, 86, of Cobleskill passed away peacefully Thursday, May 4, 2006 at Ellis Hospital in Schenectady. In recent years, she had been a resident at Ellis Skilled Nursing Facility.
She was born June 20, 1919 in Cobleskill, the daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Loucks) Ruland, Sr. She married Kenneth Dargie Dec. 8, 1935 and began taking on the many responsibilities of a farmer's wife, owning and operating a dairy farm. Mrs. Johnson also fostered numerous county children. In the passing of her husband in 1967, she later married Alfred Johnson, who died in March 2002. She was also predeceased by a son, Douglas Dargie, who died in 1975.
She was a member and former deacon of the Second Reformed Church of Howes Cave. Mrs. Johnson was also a member of the Carlisle Senior Citizens.
Survivors include 2 daughters: Harriet Dargie (Charles) Kenyon of Cobleskill, and Sally Dargie (Gene) Atkins of Wilsons, VA; 2 sons: Donald Dargie and Leslie Dargie, both of Cobleskill; a brother, Benjamin Ruland, Jr. of Florida; 7 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren; step-daughter, Gail Johnson of Anchorage, AK; 2 foster children: Cathy Bouck-Coughlin of Latham and Joe Zarrilli of Maine; several nieces and nephews along with other foster children.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, May 8 at the Mereness-Putnam Funeral Home 171 Elm St. Cobleskill with Rev. Bart McDougal of the Second Reformed Church officiating. Friends may call from 6 to 8 PM on Sunday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Cobleskill Rural Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Second Reformed Church P.O. Box 4 Howes Cave, NY 12092 or the American Cancer Society 260 Osborne Road Loudonville, NY 12211