Frances Virginia Maxwell White

Frances Virginia Maxwell White was born in Abilene, Texas, on August 17, 1923, to Richard and Frances McLemore Maxwell and entered her eternal home on June 12, 2013. She was a graduate of Abilene High School and H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, coordinate women’s college of Tulane University, studying Art History. On February 16, 1946, she married Robert Graves White, a handsome young soldier from West Virginia. He was quick to make Texas his home and they were happily married for 56 years, living in El Paso, Texas, and Abilene. A faithful member of First Central Presbyterian Church, she served in many capacities including the Presbyterian Women, Membership and Evangelism Committee, volunteering at the Presbyterian Medical Care Mission and as an elder of the church. She was also active in the Abilene Woman’s Club and especially enjoyed her service on their Nelson Scholarship Committee, chairing it for several years. She was a third generation board member of the YWCA of Abilene (now known as The Alliance for Women and Children) and was involved with their endeavors for many years with noteworthy service to the annual luncheons and rummage sales. Other civic groups to which she belonged were The Junior League of Abilene, Inc., The Abilene Philharmonic Guild, Chapter CK of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, the Assembly and Revelers Dance Clubs and the Abilene Alumna Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi. In addition, she served on the board of directors at Sears Retirement Center. She was well-known for her homemaking and sewing skills and her award-winning oatmeal cookies. She enjoyed her long heritage and deep family roots to the Abilene community and was an authority on local historical times, dates and events. Her friends and family knew her as a compassionate, devoted, affirming, gracious matriarch, strong in her Christian faith, and she lived by the mantra “Family Above All.” She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. Left to grieve her passing but joyful in the knowledge of eternal life in Christ are a daughter, Jan White Woodward and her husband, George, of Abilene; a son, Robert G. White, Jr. and his wife, Brenda, of Dallas; grandchildren Diane Woodward Kippie and her husband, David, of Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Richard Woodward and his wife, Carrie, of Dallas; Marshall White and his wife, Amy, of Dallas; Melissa White of Dallas; great-grandchildren Caroline and Carson Kippie, Robert and Ellie Woodward and Shelton White; a cousin Caro Russell and his wife, Lela, of Abilene; and numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, June 17, 2013, at 1509 Woodridge Drive. A graveside service is set for 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 18 at Elmwood Memorial Park. A memorial service and reception will follow at 1:00 p.m. at First Central Presbyterian Church with Dr. Clifford S. Stewart officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of The Hamil Family Funeral Home, 6449 Buffalo Gap Road in Abilene. Memorial donations may be made to First Central Presbyterian Church, 400 Orange St., Abilene, Texas 79601; The Presbyterian Medical Care Mission, 1857 Pine St., Abilene, Texas 79601, or to the donor's favorite charity.