Myrtle Hill Myrtle Hill was born Sept. 8, 1934, and died Sept. 23, 2020.

Myrtle's children With Ralph Leroy Isenhour

Larry Keith Isenhour

Ronnie Lee Isenhour

2008 Stancil Reunion

Ronnie Isenhour with mother Myrtle Hill Estes. Family photo

Born: Sept. 8, 1934, Johnston, NC

Died: Sept. 23, 2020, Clayton, NC

Myrtle began her education at Rockridge Elementary School.

When her father started working as a railroad section foreman, the family moved, and Myrtle attended school in Lucama. This was challenging for her father, who had only a grade school education, but her mother assisted him with filling out time cards.

Myrtle’s schooling continued in Kenly, Glendale, and Rockridge. She briefly attended Stancil’s Chapel but transferred to Glendale School after just 11 days due to her younger sister Mildred’s issues with a teacher.

Although Myrtle dropped out of school before graduating, she later completed her education. She found work at a shirt factory in Clayton, making T-shirts and briefs.

Ralph Leroy Isenhour Ralph Leroy Isenhour was born Aug. 4, 1933, and died June 4, 1994, in Clayton, N.C. He is buried in Mausoleum at Pinecrest Memorial Gardens in Clayton.

The factory superintendent, Mr. Lute Isenhour, had a son named Ralph who was in the service and home on leave. Ralph noticed Myrtle and was smitten. He asked a coworker where Myrtle lived and soon visited her modest home. Ralph, a charming and handsome man, won Myrtle over with his attentiveness and gifts of jewelry.

Ralph asked Myrtle’s parents for permission to marry her, and they agreed. A friend from work drove them to Dillon, South Carolina, where they were married on June 8, 1957.

Ralph and Myrtle built a beautiful home in Clayton, planting an English walnut tree and an apple tree in their yard. They had two sons: Larry Keith, born on April 2, 1958, and Ronnie Lee, born on December 14, 1971.

Ralph passed away at home on June 5, 1994, at the age of 60.

Family reunion

Front: Myrtle Hill Isenhour Estes holding Randall, Amos Estes holding Summer Isenhour; Row 2: Leah, Misty and Ronnie Isenhour; Row 3: Larry Isenhour. Family photo

In April 1995, Myrtle began dating Amos Alton Estes, and they married on October 20, 1995. Amos, whose wife had died in 1993, received Myrtle’s phone number from a church friend and felt compelled to call her.

Amos had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and later worked as a supervisor with the N.C. Department of Transportation. He was also a deacon at his Baptist church.

On October 20, 1995, they were married by a Justice of the Peace at Wilson Courthouse. They bought a Cadillac, retired, and began traveling in June 1996. Myrtle had a talent for style and enjoyed helping women enhance their looks with new hairstyles and makeup.

Amos passed away on June 29, 2005, in Middlesex, North Carolina. He was survived by Myrtle, their children, stepchildren, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He was buried in Montlawn Memorial Park.

Myrtle passed away on September 23, 2020, in Clayton, N.C.

— Renn Stancil Hinton