Dorothy D. White

Dorothy was born to Grace Olson on January 30, 1933. As Grace was unmarried at the time she gave birth, Dorothy was raised until the age of 9 as the beloved daughter of Elmer and FreddieMae Olson in La Ward, Texas, along with older brother Junior and younger sister Estha. When she was 9, her parents separated and her legal mother Grace (known only as “Aunt Grace” to Dorothy) came from Houston to give her the news that her Mama and Daddy were not her parents, but that Grace was her mother, and she was taking her to Houston. This seminal event in her life was devastating to Dorothy, as she was forced to make a new and very different life in Houston with Grace. Their story was never spoken of publicly, but this traumatic event affected both Dorothy and Estha in different ways throughout their lives.

As Dorothy was the last living person in the story, it is time for it to be told. Even 80 years later, thinking of what had happened to her as a child, it affected her emotionally, and news stories of custody battles would always elicit a heartfelt comment that “they should put the child first, and not themselves.”

Dorothy fell in love with and married Leon F White in 1958 and became stepmother to Jane and Frank (ages 11 and 9). Daughters Rae Lynn and Teri Ann came along in 1961 and 1965.

Dorothy is survived by children Rae Lynn White (wife Jennifer Wilbur), Teri White (husband Mark Pinkston), Leon F “Frank” White Jr (wife Norma Jean), and Jane Shaw; grandchildren Olivia Grace, Karen, Amanda, Lisa, David; and dear friend Diana Wolverton, who was like a daughter to her.

She was preceded in death by husband Leon White, grandchildren Juliann White and Leon White III, mother Grace Dodd, in-laws Virgie and Floyd White, and special cousin Estha Fowler.

She worked in accounting at Texas Pipe Line, Texaco, and Texaco’s Star Enterprise from 1953 until she retired in 1992.

Dorothy was a generous and selfless mother, a devoted woman of faith and a lifelong Lutheran. She loved all animals, “especially cats,” she would tell you, and she was a caregiver to all. She loved passing out treats to the neighborhood dogs every morning, and their owners became wonderful friends. The family appreciates the joy these friends and their dogs gave Dorothy every day.

Visitation will be at Forest Park Lawndale on Friday June 16 from 5pm to 8pm. Funeral service is scheduled for Saturday June 17 at 12 Noon at Forest Park Lawndale, with graveside service to follow. A reception will be held at Tony’s Mexican Restaurant a 2222 Ella Blvd at 2:30pm.

The family requests that any donations be made to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer or the Animal Charity of your choice.