09.18.09
Our Loss
Many of you have been faithful attendees at Best of the Valley, and know the names and faces of many of our Committee Members.
I am sad to tell you that this week our dear friend Loretta White’s battle with cancer came to an end. Services will be held today.
She was one of the smiling faces who greeted you at the entry table this past year, and I found her to be a delight to work with. I never saw her without her smile, no matter what the day might bring. She was at the Valley Oak Quilt Guild meeting this past Thursday (9/10), and as cheery as ever. Who knew that within a few days the disease would claim her? I certainly didn’t.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to her friends and family. She was an amazing woman, and an inspiration to me personally.
Loretta Kay White was born to Gilbert and Thelma Wright on May 12, 1959 in Tulare, CA. She was the second half of twins born that day. Loretta was raised in Tulare along with her twin brother Lloyd, her older brother, Doug, and her younger sister Regina. She, along with her family, attended The General Assembly and Church of the First Born in Tulare. She attended Maple Elementary school, Mulcahy Junior High School, and Tulare Western High School. She graduated high school in 1977. In July of 1978, she met Les White at church camp in Colorado, and they were married on April 6, 1979. To this union were born two sons, Eric and Randy. Loretta and Les raised their sons in Tulare where they attended and graduated from the Tulare school system. Randy married Tina Gentry of Tulare and to them have been born Bryson and Macey. Loretta has enjoyed watching her children grow up, and looked forward to watching her grandchildren grow. Eric married Amy in June where Loretta enjoyed watching her family grow by three more. One of her prayers was that she would be able to watch her grandchildren grow to adults, but God had another plan. Loretta had a tremendous artistic flair, working ceramics with her mother in the 1980’s. After her mother’s passing, she lost her drive to work with ceramics. Her grandmother had been making quilts for the family members for years, and Loretta acquired this same love from her. From beginning her first quilt at age 8, she became a professional quilter with a long-arm quilting machine, where she quilted 100’s of quilts for friends and acquaintances for nearly 5 years. In July of 2004, Loretta and Les along with two other couples traveled for 3 weeks on motorcycles to Canada. She enjoyed riding on the back of the motorcycle where she could enjoy the scenery. She noted several places along the 5,000 mile trip that she wanted to spend more time than just passing through. That was not meant to happen, but only a month ago, when asked if there was someplace she wanted to go, or something she wanted to do, simply responded, “No, I just enjoy being around my family”. In October of 2008, she was diagnosed with cancer. This began an eleven month battle, where she never lost her faith in God. After chemo treatments, surgery, and radiation treatments from December 2008 to June 2009, she won the battle against cancer. She won, not lost, this battle due in large part to her parents instilling faith in God when she was a child. She never lost this faith up to the very moment she passed from this life into eternity with the Lord on September 15, 2009. She was surrounded by family who held a prayer vigil throughout the night. She passed peacefully and won the battle. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 17, 2009 from 3-8 p.m. at Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Avenue in Visalia. Celebration of Life services will also be held at Miller Memorial Chapel on Friday, September 18, 2009 at 12 Noon. Loretta will be laid to rest at the Tulare Cemetery, 900 E. Kern St., Tulare, CA Condolences may be offered at www.millermemorialchapel.com. Tributes may be made at www.mem.com. Arrangements are under the direction of Miller Memorial Chapel, 1120 W. Goshen Avenue, Visalia, CA 93291 (559) 732-8371