Obituaries

Ginger H. Estep, an extraordinary wife, mother, and friend, died peacefully at home on Saturday, May 18. She was 74.

Ginger was born on June 22, 1949, to Theodore C. Honig, Jr. and Eleanor Wille Honig. She grew up in St. Louis on Lindell Blvd and told great stories about life in the city in the 1950s and 60s. Ginger attended Mary Institute and Whitfield School and earned her degree at Garland Junior College in Boston, MA. She lived around the United States before returning to St. Louis to raise her family and spend time with lifelong friends.

Ginger was always the life of the party, and she had an infectious laugh. If you got her laughing long and hard enough, she usually ended up with tears rolling down her cheeks. The person who made her laugh the most was her husband of 41 years, David Berry Estep.

Her happy place was Edisto Island, SC, where she spent many summers on the beach with her husband, children, and grandchildren. She loved to travel, especially on long road trips where she and David usually chose the scenic route—even if it was a little out of the way. Ginger’s favorite thing was a Saturday night out, complete with cocktail hour, a great meal, endless laughter, and always ordering dessert.

Ginger decorated her home meticulously for each holiday (and most days in between) and loved to garden and cook for her family. She was a voracious reader, legendary on the dance floor, and, over the years, happily filled her home with all sorts of cats and dogs. She was most proud of her 34-year career as a nursery school teacher. She touched countless lives over the years teaching at Ladue Chapel Nursery School, Samuel Preschool, and Community School.

Ginger is survived by her husband, David; her three daughters, Louisa Fordyce Douglass (Thomas), Elizabeth Fordyce Petty (Mark), and Meagan Stephens Estep (Andrew Feliciotti); her beloved grandchildren, Gray and Eleanor Douglass and Theodore and Fordyce Petty; her sister Gail Honig Lowe; and Samuel Estep (Hilary) and Adam Estep (Ashley) and their families. She will be deeply missed by everyone who had the absolute joy of knowing her and being in her presence.

Ginger was passionate about helping the animals in her community. To honor her, the family requests that donations be made to the following organizations in lieu of flowers:

Stray Rescue of St. Louis: strayrescue.org

APA of Missouri: apamo.org

Burial will be private.