Obituary of Rose E. White

ROSE GLORIA WHITE April 25, 1919 - September 4, 2014 Chester, NY Rose Gloria Eitel White, of Chester, NY has gone on to toast with the angels and celebrate her newfound role in heaven. Rose died on Thursday, September 4th, 2014 surrounded by love in her granddaughter's home in Harrisburg, PA. She shared her life of 95 years, four months and ten days with her family as she had wished. Throughout her life Rose never really grew old and was always keeping up with the times. She had an adventurous spirit and could never be described as a "stick in the mud". She encouraged all who knew her to live life to the fullest and enjoy each day. Rose began her life on April 25, 1919 in Carlstadt, NJ, born to Rose and Charles Eitel. In the 1920s, the family moved to their beloved Summerville Farm in Chester, NY, where both she and her brother worked tirelessly to maintain the family farm. As children, Rose and her brother, Charles performed in Vaudeville stage shows as toe and tap dancers. Rose did not always lead a carefree and easy life, as she lived through the Great Depression and World War II. During WWII, Rose had the distinction of being only one of three young ladies chosen from Orange County, NY to attend aviation school. She graduated with certifications in aircraft design, industrial sheet metal, and aircraft sheet metal. While working at Stewart Air Force base, she became a member of WOW, Woman Ordinance Workers, and truly was "Rosie the Riveter". For her service, Rose was commended in 2010, at the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, in New Windsor NY, where her brother had been indoctrinated for receiving the Purple Heart. Rose is a member of the National American Rosie the Riveter Association and was placed on the "Rosie Honor Roll" plague which is on display at the Yankee Air Museum, Willow Run Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Rose's name can also be found at the National WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C. for her service to our country during the war. She eventually had to hang up her dungarees to help her mother run the family farm in Chester, as her brother had been seriously injured in the War. When she took on the responsibilities of running the family farm, this is where she met her life partner, Louis Williams White. Her beloved "Louie" was also from a farming family, and they met when she contracted with him to help her with the farm operations. On March 9, 1952, on Louie's birthday, she became Mrs. Louis Williams White. Louie and Rose eventually inherited the Summerville farm where they raised their two daughters, Cynthia, and Mary and taught them the importance hard work, education, and family. After her husband's passing, Rose began her life anew with her performing career at the young age of 78. She became a member of the Actors guild, as she acted in "In and Out", and "The Name of the Game". She aspired to be "Mrs. Quaker Oats" in the commercials, as she had worked with Wilfred Brimley, who was "Mr. Quaker Oats". Rose led a long and active life up to the very end. She will be remembered for her adventurous attitude, sense of humor, compassion for others, and her caring spirit. She was never afraid to try something new and was generous to her family. She was an avid reader, animal lover, and a fun loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. She took pride in being a lifelong learner and pursing new avenues of interest. Rose often enjoyed raising a toast to life by having "a large frothy one". Her legacy and spirit of adventure lives on with her daughter, Cynthia S. McVey and her husband, Jim McVey of Wallkill, NY; her daughter, Mary R. Allen, and her husband, Steven Allen of Middletown, NY; grandchildren: Bevin McVey-Pennings, and her husband, Willem Pennings, of Harrisburg, PA; James L. McVey, of Wallkill, NY; Christian Allen, Steven Allen, and Louis Allen, of Middletown, NY; great grandchild: Nathaniel Pennings. Funeral arrangements are by the Donovan Funeral Home, 82 South Church Street, Goshen, NY. Visitation will be today from 9 to 10 a.m., Monday, September 8th. A celebration of Mass will follow at 11 a.m. at St. Columba Church, in Chester, NY. Burial will be in Warwick Cemetery.