Ernestine Tindrell

Ernestine Tindrell, daughter of Frances Reasby and Everett Johnson, Sr. was born June 12, 1934, in Lovilia, Iowa. She received her earlier education from Lovilia High School, where she graduated. She was united in marriage to Phillip O. Tindrell on June 16, 1956, in Des Moines, Iowa. This union was blessed with one son, Phillip Jr. and one daughter, Audrey. Ernestine had work experience as a librarian and a state worker that she brought to the Des Moines Public School System where she was a dedicated employee for over 33 years. Serving as Administrative School Secretary at Granger Elementary School required her to wear many hats in her job – including enrolling children for school, informing teachers of critical updates, meeting and coordinating the flow of the office building, ordering supplies, and filling in as health aide when the school nurse was away.

Ernestine was also very active in church committees and served as First Lady for many years. Aside her husband, Superintendent Phillip Tindrell, she served on the Mayor’s task force - Human Rights Commission of the Des Moines Public Housing Board and the Des Moines Area Council of Churches. She was also a member and President of the Mother’s Board of Union Baptist Missionary Church.

In her leisure time, Ernestine enjoyed reading, visitations with family and friends, and staying up on college and professional basketball games and tournaments. She had the mind of a journalist that remembered everyone’s birthdays and anniversaries, and was always a source of friendly encouragement and a voice of kindness to anyone who knew her. If you placed Ernestine in a room with a crowd of people, you would see that she never knew a stranger, and could always find something to say to brighten someone’s day. She was punctual, organized, and was a great story teller who always remembered people that she met in life.

Ernestine passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at Wesley on Grand with her family at the age of 91. Preceding her in death were her parents, her husband, Phillip Tindrell, Sr., and two younger brothers, Kenneth Johnson and Leonard Johnson. She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Phil Jr. of Des Moines; her daughter, Audrey Grimm (Theodore) of Des Moines; three grandsons, Phil III, Jorge, and Boseong of Des Moines; two great-grandsons, Braylon and Phil IV; brothers, Everett Johnson, Jr. and David Johnson, and sisters, Marlian Tate and Shirley Daniels, all of Des Moines; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and acquaintances.

What a delightful impact her life has made on all those who met and loved her.

Services will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Union Baptist Church, 1200 McCormick Street, Des Moines. Visitation will be from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., followed by a Service of Farewell and Heavenly Promotion beginning at 11:00 a.m. Burial will take place at Chapel Hill Gardens Cemetery after the service.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in loving memory of Ernestine.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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