Ellsworth “Herb” Estell passed away on Monday July 6, 2020, at Newton Medical Center, Newton, N.J. He was 84.
Herb was born on Sept. 2, 1935, to Ellsworth R. and Esther (Moyse) Estell in Franklin, N.J., and was a lifelong resident of Davis Road, Franklin.
Herb worked the family farm until 1966 when he started his career as a Union stone mason with the BAC Local 4 Paterson, N.J., until his retirement in 1995. Herb was a past president of the Franklin Revolver and Rifle Association, feeding his passion for shooting. He shot competitively all over the United States and Canada, winning many awards and trophies. He was also selected as an alternate on the 1964 Olympic Shooting team which he declined as the birth of his first child would coincide. Herb loved walking in the woods, whether it be on the family farm or upstate New York, where he would hunt every year. He would love to pull alongside a river during a Sunday drive and break out the fishing pole just to see “how the fish are bitin.” Ever the outdoorsman, in 1971, he even authored articles for the Tri-State Free Press, a Sportsman’s column about outdoors survival skills entitled “Something Wild” to share his love of all things nature and to help teach his dedication to preservation and appreciation to others. Herb’s storytelling skills were profound with his passion being history. He had a way of bringing the past to life in his stories and endless facts about any given time period. If he wasn’t reading or talking about history, he was watching it on television or movies, as war and the westerns were two of his favorites.
Herb is survived by his wife of 58 years, Genie (Drew) Estell; children, Dawn (Estell) Iaderosa of Franklin, Charles Estell and his wife, Nancy, of Waldwick, N.J., and Robert Estell and his wife, Kara, of Branchville, N.J.; grandchildren, Allison and Nicole of Waldwick, N.J., Kaitlin and Eric of Branchville, N.J., and Philip of Fairlawn, N.J.; great-grandson, Noah of Fairlawn, N.J.; and sister, Linda Amato of Franklin.
Donations are being accepted in Herb’s name by the Wallkill Valley Rescue Squad. Details of a memorial will be posted at a later date.
Funeral arrangements under direction of F. John Ramsey Funeral Home, Franklin.