Ernestina Kirker-Camp

Ernestina Kirker-Camp, 79, a resident of El Paso, Texas, passed away on Monday, November 5, 2018. She is survived by her children, Thomas Charles (Angie) Camp of Pamplin, VA; Elaine May (Vicente “Sonny”) Ogas of Silver City, NM; Aimee Jeanette Camp (Horacio “Ace” Vargas) of El Paso, TX; and David Allen (Jill) Camp of Forest, VA. She loved her children dearly and took fierce pride in her seven grandchildren, Thomas Allen, Trevor Charles, Deanna Jalynn, Caleb Dale, Brooklynn Martina, Jack Allen, and Owen David. She is preceded in death by her husband of 37 years, Paul Charles Camp, her parents Rafael and Nicanora Lopez Kirker, her sister Ernestina Kirker, and her 5 brothers, Alfredo, Reymundo, Jose “Pepe”, Alberto “Tio”, and Samuel Kirker.

Ernestina had a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s in English. She taught high school English for one year and then worked in libraries for the remainder of her career in Grants Pass, OR, Farmville, VA and Bayard, NM. She retired in 2006 and volunteered in four El Paso Public Library branches over the 14 years of her daughter Aimee’s employment there.

She had a passion for Italian opera and Mexican corridos, butterflies, rocks, shells, and all things nature. She crocheted miniatures, wrote poetry, translated 150 nursery rhymes into Spanish and delighted in the taste and sound of words. Her favorite pastime was editing her Spanish translation of “The Night Before Christmas” by Clement C. Moore. Her children remember the sound of her glorious alto voice, always singing while washing dishes. Whatever the circumstances, Ernestina could find reasons for hope, joy and laughter. She was a wellspring of kindness for everyone she met, and an endless source of entertainment for her nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 12 at 11:00am at Baca’s Funeral Chapels—Silver City at 3805 Delk Drive. A potluck Celebration of Life will be held at the Bayard Community Center at 290 Hurley Ave. at 1:00pm on Monday, November 12. Please join us and share how our beloved Ernestina touched your life.

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