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Esther Avdakov of Glen Dale, WV passed away peacefully at her home on August 3, 2026.
She was born on July 24, 1942 in Columbus, Ohio to Walter and Esther (Pilcher) Matz. Tragically, Esther lost her mother during her childbirth.
Her father Walter Matz remarried, and she was raised with her stepmother Ruth, her older sister Alice, and younger brother Bob. Despite the trauma of losing her mother at birth, she enjoyed a peaceful upbringing in the Columbus area, including at a residence on Cleveland Avenue near Morse Road. She had a special place in her heart for her Grandpa Pilcher, her mother's father, who played a significant role in her upbringing and lovingly spoiled her.
In the 1950's, her father Walter had a home built on Sunbury Road adjacent Hoover Reservoir, where Esther's family relocated. Esther attended Westerville High School, and played clarinet in the marching band. She was an extremely hard worker, excelled at her academics, and in 1959 graduated second in her class.
Esther received her undergraduate degree in from Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio, where she ranked first in her graduating class in the School of Pharmacy. In addition to her sterling academics, she was actively involved in campus life. She was a member of Delta Zeta Sorority, for which she served a term as president.
Following her graduation from Ohio Northern, Esther studied at the graduate level at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where she received her Master's Degree in Pharmacy. It was her intent to obtain a PHD in Pharmacy. However, those plans changed. While at Purdue, she met the love of her life, Gregory Avdakov, whom she married on February 4, 1965.
Esther relocated to the Ohio Valley in 1965, where Greg accepted a position as a chemical engineer at Wheeling Steel's Follansbee coke plant. Esther spent a few years residing in Follansbee, Woodsfield, and New Martinsville, before moving to Glen Dale in 1971, where she lived for the rest of her life.
In 1966, her son Steven was born, and in 1968 she had David. Despite her exceptional skill as a pharmacist, she put her career on hold to become a full time Mom to raise her children, Steve and Dave fondly recall Esther yelling "Breakfast!" at the top of her lungs to try to get them out of bed and off to school. While being a mom, Esther served multiple terms as President of the PTA at Glen Dale Elementary in the 1970's. She also worked one day a week as a pharmacist with her good friend Sara Jo Anderson at Anderson's Pharmacy in Glen Dale in the1970's and 80's. After Steve and Dave graduated from John Marshall High School in the 1980's, Esther resumed her career as a pharmacist at Reynolds Memorial Hospital, where she worked from 1983 until her retirement in 2001. During this time, she served as President of the Ohio Valley Pharmacy Association.
Esther was a wonderful grandmother, or "Baba" as she preferred to be called. She loved to spend time with her four grandchildren Alex, Elise, Sarah and Alec, with whom she would bake cookies, and play Uno and Old Maid.
She also loved to travel, and with Greg visited many countries including Greg's hometown in Serbia, several countries in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and nearly all the U.S. states, including Alaska and Hawaii. Esther also loved sports, and would watch baseball and college basketball games nearly every night. Esther loved to spend time in Epworth Park in Bethesda, Ohio, where she purchased a cottage in 1992. She loved visiting with the neighbors, walking around the park, and sitting on the front porch swing. She loved to play bridge, and played as a regular with her group for many years. She also was a longtime member of the Moundsville Women's Club. In particular, she was devoted to her Orthodox Christian faith. She was a longtime member and leader at St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Moundsville, where she sung in the choir and served on the church council for many years.
Esther had a strong character. She could certainly be stubborn, as her husband Greg would attest. However, this character more often was expressed as incredible resilience, which served her well throughout her life from her birth, to overcoming cancer twice, and to her dignified battle with dementia. She was preceded in death by her husband Greg. She is survived by sons Steven and David (Laura), and grandchildren Alex (Franchesca), Elise, Sarah (Steven), and Alec. Family will receive friends on Saturday (8/8) from 1-3pm at Grisell Funeral Home & Crematory, 400 Jefferson Ave., Moundsville. Orthodox Service will be held at 3:00PM at the Funeral Home, with Fr. William Evansky and Fr. John Kocha as celebrants, followed by internment at Riverview Cemetery, Moundsville.
Donations are welcome to be made in Esther's name to the International Orthodox Christian Charities, 110 West Road, Suite 360, Baltimore, MD 21204.