Esther Darlene Gould

Esther Darlene Gould was born as Esther Darlene Schwindt- daughter of Emma Schwindt and Reinhold Schwindt, a Pastor in a small group of houses called Marsh outside Davenport. She was the 4th child of what would eventually be 5 children – 3 brothers and a sister.

From the outset she was always known as Darlene not Esther. This worked fine until about 2020 when TSA and the airlines got picky about names that didn’t match on tickets, passports, SSN cards and drivers licenses. However, in spite of what passports said, and other ID’s, she was called Darlene by all.

Her early days were spent happily in farm-like conditions with the Pastor owning a cow to provide milk for the family in addition to his pastoral responsibilities. Farm country pastors were not well paid in those days. She moved often living in different places as her parents moved from parish to parish. Marsh MT, then Belle Fouche, SD, then Davenport WA, and finally by High School a small town in Washington called Castle Rock.

In her future life with a husband in the Air Force the movement continued. In fact Darlene lived in 22 different locations in her life including, Washington, Florida, Indiana, California, Massachusetts, Germany, England, California and finally Nevada. While doing all this movement she managed to raise 3 beloved children, support the functions and protocol of a military wife, and provide a stable home life for both husband and 3 beloved children.

Her older brothers were very bright academically and went off to medical school to become physicians which consumed most of the family money a pastor could use to help with schooling. Determined to succeed Darlene went off to Pacific Lutheran University (PLU) in Tacoma, WA to become a teacher. She worked while attending classes, and in summers, to pretty much pay for her schooling by herself with little help from parents. She developed a love for elementary children and in particular to be certified to teach disabled ones. Since PLU did not have a in Special Education curriculum, she transferred to Western Washington University (WWU) in Bellingham for her senior year and graduated in 1960 with a degree in elementary education and certification in Special education.

While at WWU she spent a summer helping her brother Richard at University of Washington, where she helped in the home, took classes at UW, and while there met the love of her life- Ned Gould. After 6 months of dating, they were engaged in Dec. of 1959 and set a wedding date for Aug. 1960. However in March 1960, Ned was ordered to report for duty with the Air Force in Florida and Darlene stayed in WA to finish her degree. Their love stayed strong and they were married at Zion Lutheran Church near UW on 12 August 1960 with a simple ceremony, cookies and cake at the church afterward in the early evening, and off to the airport to fly to Eglin AFB in Florida that night on a red eye.

Before school started in Florida for fall, Darlene secured a job teaching first grade at the Eglin AFB elementary school on the base. Darlene was a teacher and a good one. Loved by children and most parents, and she loved the children and cared about each one. She particularly loved the sense and achievement of kids when they realized that they could READ! - such a joy in their lives and hers. Order ruled in her classroom and the kids loved it. They knew the rules and felt comfortable and safe in a place of order. When Darlene came into restaurants owned or operated by past or present parents she normally was not allowed to pay. In addition to teaching, Darlene studied and became qualified in the Irlen clinic to treat scotopic sensitivity and other visual related reading difficulties. She helped several students to overcome such difficulties and greatly improve academic performance. While this activity was brief in her life it was of great benefit to those she helped. Her manner in the classroom was complemented by her warm non-threatening manner in conversation.

People felt comfortable with Darlene and just opened up. For example, Darlene would strike up a conversation in the grocery store checkout line, (much to the alarm of her children), and by the time she was at the cashier would have half their life story.

Darlene was active in church her entire life singing in choir, playing piano for services, she helped the initial structure and purpose of the Pre-School at King of Glory Lutheran in Fountain Valley and served in women’s groups as well as teaching some Sunday School. Her faith was strong and her service generous.

Her family grew up and moved on to successful lives and she and her beloved Ned enjoyed many happy days in Fountain Valley and then in Reno, Nevada. Darlene developed dementia in her 80’s and passed away to be with our Lord on 3 September 2024. She was loved by many and will be missed in abundance.

A celebration of life for Darlene will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 11:00 AM at St. Luke's Lutheran Church, 3835 Lakeside Drive, Reno, Nevada 89509, with Reception to follow.