Margaret Ethel (Via) White age 71, wife of Ronald H. White of Augusta County, VA, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday October 22, 2015, surrounded by her family at home.
Mrs. White was born June 11, 1944 in Pulaski, a daughter of the late Blair and Ruth (White) Via.
Mrs. White was a member of the New Hope UMC and was involved in the New Hope UMC History preservation, as well as a member of the choir since 1960. She was a member of the Augusta County Genealogy Society. She was retired from Shenandoah Valley Electric Coop. where she was employed as a Consumer Service Representative. Ethel was also a member of the Sarah Murray Lewis DAR Chapter. She graduated from Middle River HS in 1961 as well as attending Ferrum College from 1962 1963. Ethel White was a woman of many talents. She loved to quilt, sew and had a philosophy in life that everyone should have something handmade especially for them. This was evident in the many creations that she hand sewed over the years with love and prayer in each stitch. Ethel was also very passionate about genealogy and was adamant about preserving past history for future generations to learn from and believed that people and history should not be forgotten. This was obvious in her pursuit along with others, in the years spent documenting every gravesite in Augusta County for the Augusta Genealogical Society. Ethels faith in God was shown with every turn in her life, whether she was singing about it, stitching it, baking it, or simply sharing it with others. On her trip to Israel in 2008, the greatest testament to her faith was the ability to walk where Jesus walked, imagining the whole way, that she was possibly walking on the same stones that her Lord and Savior walked on. Ethel White was the inspiration that held many different circles of friends and family together. This was not more evident than in the endless parade of her high school Middle River classmates that made their way back over the last several months just to see her. She will be missed by many, and will forever be teaching us lessons long into the future.
In addition to her parents, Mrs. White was preceded in death by her grandparents, Francis Marion White, Florence Oakley Harman, John Thomas Via, Sr. and Susan Ethel Sledge.
Surviving in addition to her husband of 51 years, is a son Brandon William White and his wife Rebecca of Middlebrook; daughter, Dawn Leigh White of Churchville; grandsons, Wyatt Christian and Hunter Blair White; a close cousin, Betty Rollins of Rochelle; and several nieces and nephews.
A Memorial service will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday October 27, 2015 at the New Hope United Methodist Church, 55 Round Hill School Road, New Hope by Al Tuten.
It is suggested in lieu of flowers that those desiring to make a memorial contribution, do so to Paramant Fund, c/o New Hope United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 86, New Hope VA 24469 or to the Augusta Health Foundation Hospice of the Shenandoah, P.O. Box 1000, Fishersville, VA 22939.
Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive, Staunton is in charge of her arrangements.