Obituary: WHITE, ELVIRA

Elvira Charlotte Robbins White1917 ~ 2012Elvira Charlotte Robbins White returned peacefully to Heavenly Father on October 15, 2012, where she has reunited with her beloved husband, Verdi, and with countless other loved ones. She was born on June 8, 1917, in Roundup, Montana, to Raymond Spencer Robbins and Elvira Genevieve Tuberg. She was blessed with God-fearing parents and descended from a strong Christian heritage. Elvira's father was a mining engineer, and thus as a child she grew up in mining camps in Montana, Wyoming, and Carbon County, Utah. Her father called her "pink" because of her glowing complexion.After graduating from East High School in Salt Lake City in 1934, Elvira attended the University of Utah, where she shared a room with her sister, Marian, at the Phi Mu Sorority house. Because education was so very important to Elvira's parents, they sent all three of their children to the University of Utah during the Depression years at considerable sacrifice, and each one graduated from the university with honors. Marion Robbins Halbert and John Spencer Robbins have preceded Elvira in death.Elvira met her future husband, Verdi Ray White while he was playing the piano for a sorority dance. She majored in Speech, and minored in English and Spanish. She served as president of the Speech Arts Society; vice president of Cwean, a service organization for junior women; and as a member of Theta Alpha Phi, the national theater honors society. She had leading roles in several university plays, including "High Tor" and "Hobson's Choice." Following graduation, she taught school in the Granite School District.Elvira investigated The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while dating Verdi, and she was baptized a member of in 1938. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on May 28, 1940, and in March 1941 they moved into a new home on "White Farm."It was a unique and wonderful experience for Elvira to raise her four children on the same block with Verdi's parents, the families of his six siblings, and 30 or so nephews and nieces. For years, Elvira and Verdi along with their closest neighbors, the Egans, Morgans, Moss's, Harmans, Wimmers, and Whiteswho were all relativesheld parties on most summer holidays in their shared backyards. They also hosted dozens of kids from the surrounding community for swimming, tennis, sleep-overs and other activities. Additionally, Elvira shuttled a car load of kids and their musical instruments to school and other venues, regardless of the weather. She basically provided a neighborhood shuttle service.Elvira and Verdi sang with the Tabernacle Choir for 18 years, and participated in the choir's European tour in 1955. She has been a member of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution since 1972, and she served as State Regent of that organization from 1983 to 1986. She also served for three years as president of the Colonial Dames of the 17th Century, and for two years as state Regent of the Daughters of the American Colonists. She and Verdi served a full-time mission in the Los Angeles California Visitors Center from 1986 to 1987. Elvira was also an avid genealogist; she completed extensive research on her family, including the Robbins, Ridgley, Watson, Goodwin, Drake, Tuberg, Felt, and Campbell lines.All of Elvira's children, grandchildren and great grandchildren absolutely adored her. She was the "ultimate hostess" who made everyone feel welcome in her totally child-friendly home, including her children's and grandchildren's friends. She had boundless energy. She had an amazing first of building bridges between Latter-day Saints and members of other faiths. Her talents in speech, piano, drama, and the fine arts have manifested themselves in her children's lives. A defining dimension of Elvira's life was her testimony of the restored gospel, which she has often shared with her family and others with deep conviction.Elvira is survived by four children: Shirley Ann White Nelson (husband David); Judy Rae White Mayfield (husband David); Verdi Ray White II (wife Pamela); and Geoffrey Steven White (wife Julie); 18 grandchildren, and 36 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on October 22, 2012, at the Kenwood First Ward Meetinghouse on 3080 South 1765 East, in Salt Lake City, beginning at noon. A viewing will be held on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and at the Kenwood First Ward Meetinghouse from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m., prior to the funeral service. The interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 South Highland Drive, Salt Lake City, Utah.