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Darlene White, 86, of Shannon City died July 27, 2014, at her daughter’s home in Creston.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 30, at Shannon City Community Church. The Rev. Lila Greene will officiate. Burial will be in Oakland Cemetery in Shannon City. Open visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. today with family present 6 to 8 p.m. at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home, 205 W. Monroe St., Mount Ayr. Memorials may be given in Darlene's name. Online condolencs may be left at www.watsonarmstrong.com.
Darlene Louise White, daughter of Opal Faye (Waddell) and Glenn Ernest Keller, was born May 2, 1928, at home on a farm northeast of Tingley in Ringgold County.
Darlene attended several country schools, including Corn Stalk College and Monroe No. 5. She attended Kellerton High School her freshman and sophomore years. She then worked for her room and board at a teacher’s boarding house.
In 1946, Darlene and her sister Jean worked at Greater Community Hospital in Creston as nurses aides.
Darlene completed her education at Shannon City Consolidated School in 1947.
On May 11, 1947, Darlene married Willard Wayne White, a WWII veteran and a farmer.
They were lifelong residents of Union County.
In October 1961, they moved their family into Shannon City where she lived for 52 years.
Darlene served as treasurer and board member for Shannon City Cemetery, and was a member of American Legion Auxiliary, Rebecca Lodge and Afton VFW Auxiliary. She was also a member of Shannon City United Methodist Church which is now Shannon City Community Church. She attended the Tingley meal site for 26 years.
Darlene is survived by her children, Mary (Loren) Long of Greenfield, Larry White of Des Moines, Jerry (Sandy) White of Creston, Perry (Sara) White of Red Oak, Johnny (Loretta) White of Mount Ayr, Marsha (Terry) Cheers of Afton, Marie (Rich) Flynn of Creston, Randy (Paula) White of Creston and Marla (Bernard) Crawford of Mount Ayr; 16 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren; sisters, Doris Crecelius of Bedford, Mildred Maxine (Richard) Franklin of Mount Ayr and Lila (Jack) Greene of Creston; brother Marvin (Leora) Keller of Murray; and sisters-in-law, Eloise White of Creston, Lola (Otis) Brown of Salem, Mo., Marjorie Kennedy of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Donna Faye McKnight of Osceola.
Darlene was preceded in death by her husband, parents; grandsons, Kendall Crawford and Kyle Bowers; brother Donald (Alice) Keller; sister Jean Campbell; brother-in-law Harold Crecelius and brother Glen Wayne Keller in infancy.