Mary “Joan” White
May 3, 1928 – May 23, 2020
WAVERLY — Mary “Joan” White died in the early morning hours of Saturday, May 23, 2020, at her home in Waverly. She was 92.
She was born Mary Joan Rudolph, on May 3, 1928, in Gridley, the daughter of Chester and Isabel Myers Rudolph. When Joan was a child her family moved to the Key West Community, east of Lebo. She attended Lebo High School and graduated with the class of 1948.
She married the love of her life, Willis “Warren” White July 4, 1948, in Melvern. Joan and Warren made their home on a farm south of Melvern. She was a homemaker and took great pride in her family. In 1993, Joan and Warren moved to Bella Vista, Ark., and would return to Waverly, in the summer of 2006.
Joan attended the United Methodist Church and had been a member of the Rain or Shine Club, of Melvern, for many years.
Mary was preceded in death by her devoted husband, Warren, on Sept. 3, 2007; a son Frank White; five sisters; and a brother.
She will live on in the hearts and memories of three daughters, Irene Perry and husband, Ron, Forsyth, Mo., Marie Rogers and husband, Brad, Emporia and Dianna Hendon and husband, Kevin, Scottsdale, Ariz.; three sons, Duane White, Melvern, Cletus White and wife, Tammy, Waverly, and Jeff White and wife, Gayle, Paola; 22 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; eight great-great- grandchildren; a daughter-in-law, Sue White, Kansas City; numerous extended family; and a host of friends.
Services will be 10 a.m. Friday, May 29, at Jones VanArsdale Funeral Home, Lebo. Burial will follow services at Waverly Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Condolences may be expressed at vanarsdalefs.com.
Due to current restrictions, social distancing will be practiced at all times during the visitation and services with the use of facial masks recommended.
