Delores E. White

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOM: Delores E. White, 85, of St. Petersburg, Florida, died Sunday, July 8, 2012. She was born in Chappaqua, NY and moved to St. Petersburg in 1948 from New London, CT. When my Dad, James R. "Buster" White, Jr. (1929-1957) died and Mom became a widow at the age of 30 she spent the next few years as a stay at home mom to take care of us, her 4 young daughters. We were 7, 5, 4, and 2. She made sure we had what we needed, and made each of feel special, each in our own way. Christmas and Birthdays were the best memories. She always made them special, and carried that on with her grandchildren and great grandchilren. Oh how she loved children. I think she got along better with children then she did with any adults that she knew. After the four of us girls got just a little older she did learn to drive, and went to work as a teacher's aide at Norwood and Perkins Elementary Schools until 1972 when she became an assembly worker for Concept/Advalight, working until the age of 74. She had hopes of working until 02-22-02 the day after her 75th birthday, but that didn't happen, to her disappointment she was let go in December of 2001. She spent the next few months weeding thru her 100 plus pairs of shoes and many many work tops, that she didn't need any more. Mom and I began painting "Donna Dewberry" style, driving to Brandon monthly. Both began painting everything in sight. There was hardly a blank wall, mirror or object in her house that she didn't paint, inside or out. (Including the big black outside garbage can). Side Note: After selling the house to a great nephew, and soon to be great niece, they are honoring Mom by keeping a lot of her paintings that were on the woodwork in the house. Mom's illness' began in 1985 and 1987 and she did great until things began to change in 2009 for which she was unable to fully recover. The last three years were a real struggle, but the last 6 months she did what she wanted to do and when she wanted to do it.... but didn't she always??? So in a way those last 6 - 8 months were probably the most peaceful times of her whole life. I love you, Mom Dolly Jean She is survived by her 4 daughters, Karen L. (Norman) Mueller, Dolly W. (Dale) Gunter both of St. Petersburg; Elaine M. (Rick) Lightkep of Pensacola; Darlene D. (Frank) Gee of Fruit Heights, UT; 1 brother, Gerry (Diane) Burklin; 2 sisters, Marilyn E. Carter, Carole J. (Bob) Landry; 10 grandchildren, Debbie (Bill) Byrne, Denise (Bryan) Quigley, Daniel (Edie)Gunter, Ricky (Linde) Lightkep, Tracy (Carlton) Keen, Eric (Holly) Lightkep, Elliott Gee, Cory Robinson, Heather Walters, Amy Walters, 18 great grandchildren and 2 sister in laws - Dolly Peterson and Shirley Garrison. She was also predeceased by her parents Richard and Emily Burklin, a brother and sister in law, Richard "Dick" and Jeanette Burklin, Jr.; 2 other sister in laws - Mary Francis Smith and Viola Nielsen; 4 brother in laws - Richard Smith, Roy Peterson, Pete Garrison, Billy Carter and a great grandson. Visitation 5:00 -7:00 PM Tuesday, July 10, 2012 at E. Dale Gunter Funeral Home 4100-16th Street North where service will be 11:00 AM Wednesday, July 11, 2012. Interment: Memorial Park. The family requests memorials to: Bring Me Hope Foundation 2169 Green Canyon Rd Fallbrook, CA 92028 http://www.bringmehope.org ************************ TO VIEW THE LOVING MEMORIES VIDEO, CHECK THE VIDEO TAB ABOVE. To order a copy of Delores' Loving Memories Keepsake DVD for $17.00 (includes postage and handling) Please call us 727-528-2880 or email [email protected] (subject line DVD). *********************************** $(document).ready(function(){ });