Ethel Mary (Miller) White -- WWII Cadet Nurse

Obituary of Ethel M White

Date of Death: Friday, April 30, 2010

Residence: Stevensville, MT

Age: 85

Obituary: Ethel M. White, 85, of Stevensville, Montana triumphed over illness as she placed her hand in God's on Friday, April 30. A loving wife, mother, nurse, she epitomized gentle compassion throughout her days on earth. She was born on December 8, 1924 to Reuben and Mary Gardner Miller on her family's dairy farm near Morris, NY. Ethel graduated from Morris H.S. in the early days of WWII and soon entered the Army's first class of Cadet Nurses at Hartwick College, graduating as a member of the Hartwick Class of 1946. On August 23, 1947 she wed Loring C. White in St. Mary's Church, Rome, NY. Ethel and Loring made the Rome area their home for the next 20 years. During those years Ethel served the nursing profession in Rome Hospi">tal culminating as Nursing Instructor in the early days of what would became the BOCES LPN program.

In 1966 the family moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Ever the nurse, Ethel resumed her career at various hospitals in the "Valley of the Sun". In 1986 she retired as an industrial nurse from Honeywell Corporation. With her husband, Loring, she enjoyed travel throughout the US and beyond, Hawaii being a favored destination. During retirement Ethel found outlets for her energies through sewing, crocheting, bowling, and volunteering with the Women's Club in her church. Ethel and her dearest friends, Gerry and Carol, held one of the finest Holiday Boutiques in the Phoenix area for over a decade. In 2002, she and Loring made a final home together within sight of her beloved St. Mary's Peak in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana. Ethel was a member of St. Mary's Church, Stevensville, MT., the Hartwick Alumni Association and the DAR.

Ethel is survived by her husband of 62 years; her two daughters and sons-in-law, Diane and Paul Miller, Blossvale, and Sandra and Michael Anderson, Stevensville, MT; two sons and daughters-in-law, Loring, Jr.(Bud) and Kristi White, Escondido, CA, and Charles and Kristina White, LeRoy, IL; 13 beloved grandchildren and their spouses; 7 great-grandchildren, who blessed her final years; her sister, Margaret Conklin; brothers Donald and Lewis Miller; and many well loved nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a granddaughter, Heather; two sisters, Aleta and Mildred; and one brother, Harley.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St Mary's Church, Stevensville, MT. on Tuesday, May 4, 2010. Ethel's life will be celebrated with a prayer service lead by the Rev. Phillip Hearn on Saturday, May 8, at 10:30am at the Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc., 418 N. George St., Rome. Interment will take place in St. Mary's Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday from 4-7pm.

To honor Ethel's life the family asks that, in lieu of flowers, you please consider a donation in her memory to the "Nursing Alumni Memorial Scholarship Fund" at Hartwick College or to Partners Hospice of Missoula, MT. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home for your convenience. You may view the obituary and send a message of sympathy at www.nunnandharper.com.

10:30 am
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Nunn And Harper Funeral Home, Inc.
418 N. George Street
Rome, New York, United States
Service Time: 10:30 AM

Interment at: St. Mary's Cemetery
11:30 am
Saturday, May 8, 2010
St. Mary's Cemetery
1106 W. Liberty St.
Rome, New York, United States

Ethel was born in Pittsfield, NY., December 8, 1924 the daughter of Reuben and Mary F. Gardner-Miller.
She entered Hartwick College in the U. S. Army Cadet Nurse Corps. She graduated in class of 1946 as a registered nurse. She was a member of the Phi-Sigma-Phi Sorority.

Early in her nursing career she worked in the children's hospital in Philadelphia, PA. and then at Marcy State Hospital, Marcy, NY. She became acquainted with Bertha White not knowing she was the Aunt of her husband to be. She was nursing supervisor at Rome Hospital 1947-1948 where she met Loring White who had been injured in an industrial accident. They were married August 23, 1947.

Ethel was Nurse instructor for the US Man Power at Rome hospital from 1963-1966. Ethel was a charter member of the Women's auxiliary of the Lee Legion Post #1794. Loring also was a charter member and a past Commander of the post.

July 1966 the family moved to Phoenix, AZ where she continued nursing in hospital and nursing homes. Her last position was as Industrial Nurse at Honeywell Info Systems, Phoenix, AZ. from 1977-1986 when she retired. Ethel is the fourth great grand daughter of Captain Samuel Bailey, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War. This relationship allowed Ethel to become a member of the DAR (Daughter's of the American Revolution) Ethel was a loving, devoted wife, mother and nurse.

She was an MCS graduate of the class of 1942 and a sister to Lewis "Lukie" Miller, the farmer, auctioneer, and long time Otsego County Fair president.