An ABC Biography

Early Life and Family

Esther Stella Crawford was born on February 6, 1905, in Dodge City, Kansas, to Judson Foster Crawford and Josie Winifred Hammond Crawford. She was one of several children in the Crawford household and grew up on Avenue G in Dodge City. Records from the 1905 Kansas State Census, as well as U.S. Census records from 1910, 1920, and 1925, show Esther living with her parents and siblings in the heart of Dodge City, a growing town known for its Wild West legacy.

Esther’s known sibling was Hugh Crawford, who later lived in Florence, Arizona.

Education and Early Career

Esther attended Dodge City High School, graduating in the early 1920s. She pursued further education at Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, and then went on to become a registered nurse. She graduated from Baylor University’s nursing program in Dallas, Texas, and by January 1929, she had accepted a position as an operating nurse at Cook’s Memorial Hospital in Fort Worth.

In the 1930 Census, Esther was listed as a roomer in Fort Worth, employed as a hospital nurse. By the end of 1936, she had relocated to Tucson, Arizona, where she worked at Southern Methodist Hospital.

World War II Service

Esther’s commitment to nursing extended beyond civilian life. On December 1, 1943, she enlisted in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. She was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and assigned to the 185th General Hospital. She underwent Army Nurse Corps training at Hammer Field in California, received vaccinations, and was issued a military ID card at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey, before heading overseas.

From April 1944 to August 1945, she served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater, providing essential care to wounded soldiers during some of the war’s most grueling campaigns. She held the military occupational specialty of Nurse, General Duty (MOS 3449) and attained the rank of First Lieutenant.

She was discharged at Camp Sibert, Alabama, on December 23, 1945, after two years of dedicated military service. Her discharge records note her blue eyes, blonde hair, and 5’2” height—small but mighty.

Marriage and Family Life

Just days after returning home from military service, Esther married Carl Frederick Noll on December 27, 1945, in Dodge City. Carl, a World War II U.S. Navy veteran born February 13, 1906, in Dighton, Kansas, had been discharged in October 1945.

Esther and Carl made their home in Taos, New Mexico.

After Carl’s death on April 12, 1982, Esther moved back to Dodge City, living at 1914 Central Avenue.

Later Years and Death

Esther remained active in her faith and community. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Dodge City. She died on July 7, 1987, at Humana Hospital in Dodge City, at the age of 82. She was buried beside her husband at Maple Grove Cemetery.

At the time of her passing, Esther’s life was celebrated in a funeral led by Rev. Rick Cope, and memorials were suggested to the Gregory Noll Foreign Mission Fund, reflecting her deep-rooted family and spiritual values.

Historical Context

Esther lived through a remarkable era in American history. Born just after the turn of the century, she experienced the transformations of two world wars, the Great Depression, the rise of women in the workforce, and the civil rights movement. Her choice to become a nurse and serve during World War II was part of a broader trend of women stepping into critical roles during times of crisis.

Her service in the Army Nurse Corps placed her among more than 59,000 women who served as nurses during World War II, often under challenging and dangerous conditions. Esther’s dedication to healing—both in military hospitals overseas and in civilian practice—exemplified a lifetime of compassion, courage, and quiet strength.