Patricia Ann White

Patricia Ann White, 86, of State Center died Saturday July 25th, 2009 at the Iowa River Hospice House in Marshalltown. A celebration of Pats life will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 28th at the New Horizon United Methodist Church in Melbourne. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Monday at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. She will be laid to rest in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Pats family suggests memorials be made in Pats name to the West Marshall Foundation or Iowa River Hospice. For condolences, please visit www.mitchellfh.com. The Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for Pat and her family, phone 641-844-1234. Pat was born in Collins, IA on June 21st, 1923 to parents John B. and Gladys (Jordan) Thompson. Pat attended school in Des Moines, and later in Waterloo, graduating from West High School in 1941. Pat then attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, graduating in 1946. On December 21st, 1945, Pat was united in marriage to Lawrence James White in Clinton, IA. The couple had resided in Ames where Pat taught first grade. They then moved to a farm in rural State Center, near Melbourne, where they resided for many years. Pat taught second and third grades in Melbourne, Jr. High in Baxter, fifth grade and Kindergarten at West Marshall. With her 32 years of teaching, Pat cherished teaching Kindergarten the most. They later moved to Marshalltown, then returned to State Center. Pat collected dolls and Hummel figurines, enjoyed painting ceramics and porcelain dolls. She also enjoyed baking, loved music and shopping, and was a fierce competitor at state and county fair canning competitions. She was a member of the Central Iowa Doll Club, ISEA, Eastern Star, was a charter member of the West Marshall Foundation, and a member of New Horizon United Methodist Church in Melbourne. Pat was a remarkable woman who loved her family, and very much enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Left to celebrate Pats life is her daughters Sara (Dennis)DeWitt of Spencer, Benita (John) Anderson of New Hartford, and Josie (Mark)Hilleman of State Center; her sons John (Linda) White of Melbourne, Tom White of State Center, and Mike White of State Center; eleven grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; two brother-in-laws; one sister-in-law; as well as many friends. In death, Pat has rejoined her parents, a sister-in-law, and her beloved husband Lawrence (1999).