Neva Lois White

Neva Lois White

Female 1915 - 2010  (94 years)

 

White, Neva

The Newton Kansan

Neva Lois White, 94, died on Saturday (Nov. 13, 2010) at Schowalter Villa in Hesston.

She was born on Dec. 14, 1915, in Highland Township in Harvey County to Elmer Jay and Sadie Byler White. She was sixth in a family of 11 children. She attended Harvey County Sunnyside School and graduated from Newton High School, Hesston College and Goshen College in Goshen, Ind.; and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, where she received a degree in library science. Neva served as a librarian at Goshen College, St. Mary’s Hospital in Wausau, Wis., and Marquette University. She did relief work in Hong Kong following World War II through Mennonite Central Committee. In 1959, she went to Afghanistan as a library consultant for the State Department, USAID.
During that time, she traveled to more than 40 countries on visits or in connection with her work. She returned to the United States in 1966 to take a position at the Kansas State University Library, where she served as head of cataloging until her retirement in 1983. She moved to Schowalter Villa in 2005.

Neva made a lifelong quest of learning and of assuring others the same privilege. She was known locally and in statewide literary circles for her writings about her life experiences and family history. She also was known for her open appreciation and loyalty to those who helped her along the way. She was a longtime member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Manhattan.

Survivors include her brother Dale White, Hesston; and her sisters Elsie White, Hesston, and Erna Jantz, McPherson.
She also is survived by 31 nieces and nephews. Her parents and siblings Warren White, Gladys Zook, Allen White, Clement White, Mary Wenger, Calvin White and James White preceded her in death, as did one niece and two nephews.

Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Wednesday with the family receiving friends from 5 to 6 p.m. at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church followed by Mass of the Resurrection at 10:30 a.m., also at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The Rev. Jim Mainzer will be celebrant. Burial will follow in Eastlawn Cemetery in rural Zimmerdale. Memorials may be left with Hesston College Library or Schowalter Villa in care of Petersen Funeral Home.

Owner/SourceHarvey County Genealogical Society
Date13 Nov 2010
Linked toNeva Lois White




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