- Date Of Birth: January 31, 1924
- Date Of Death: December 4, 2011
- State: New Mexico
EUNICE I. WHITE, 87, passed away in her husband’s loving arms on Sunday, December 4, 2011.
Born in Oklahoma and raised in California, Eunice met and fell madly in love with Robert E. White, while he was serving as a pilot with the US Army Air Force during WWII.
They were married in 1945 and had their first daughter, Connie Lou, in 1946. Shortly after, Bob and Eunice were baptized as Jehovah’s Witnesses and became full-time missionaries. The three of them spent many years together pioneering in South Dakota and Montana. In 1959, concerned for Connie’s health, they wanted to settle down in a warm climate. The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society sent them to a small congregation in a town called Silver City, New Mexico, where Bob was appointed by the Society to be its’ Congregation Servant three months before they arrived. Also assigned to Silver City was Harold “Russ” Russell and his family, who Bob & Eunice had studied with regularly when they came into the truth.
Bob, Eunice and Russ worked hard to grow and encourage the small congregation of about 20 people. Bob’s leadership and organizational skills and Eunice’s joy of loving people, made them a perfect team. Eunice always said there was no such thing as a stranger; there were only friends she hadn’t met yet. She loved meeting new people and welcoming them into her life and sharing her love for Jehovah. She was often teased that she would talk to anyone who would listen, and even a few who wouldn’t. She truly loved people and cared about their personal lives and problems, always listening with an optimistic attitude and an open, giving heart. People took to her right away, and were drawn to her warm and welcoming smile.
In 1961, they were surprised by the arrival of their second daughter, Bobbi Sue. While continuing in her missionary work, Eunice was a strong, loyal wife and a loving, supportive mother who adored her daughters. With her love of Jehovah, her family was her life. Her daughters will always be proud of the wonderful example of love their mother set for them.
Eunice is survived by her beloved husband, Robert E. White, her daughter, Connie White Walling and husband Richard Walling, and her daughter, Bobbi White Armstrong and husband Richard Armstrong. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Justin Peta, Melody Mackey, Melissa Peta, Mike Armstrong, Shayla Armstrong and Bob Armstrong, as well as six great-grandchildren. Her seventh great-grandchild is due in January. She is also survived by her brother, Ben Burkett, and by her niece, Ruthie Heuer and nephew, Rod Burkett.
