Esther Loomis was born on October 19, 1897 in Shirland Township, Illinois, the daughter of Clifford and Lillian Bliss Atkinson. She graduated from Beloit College in 1919 and began teaching high school level English, math and Latin.

The following year she married O.E. “Doc” Loomis. She then worked as coordinator of distributive education at Beloit Vocational and Technical Adult School for seventeen years. She left education to start a career in business as personnel and training director for McNeany’s Department Store in Beloit, holding that position for twenty-three years.

She obtained a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin in 1943 and continued with graduate courses in retail at New York University.

Esther’s many community involvements included the Civic Theater of Beloit, Community Concert Association, Civic Symphony Association, Stateline United Givers and the Phoenix Chapter 215 Order of the Eastern Star Beloit. She organized a Credit Women International Chapter in Beloit and the Hononegah Chapter of the American Field Service.

Esther was very active in Altrusa, serving as a board member for eight years and two years as editor of the district publications. She was president of Beloit’s chapter from 1960 to 1962.

Esther Alice Loomis died at the age of 81 on May 3, 1979.