Myrtle Westbrook White

Myrtle Westbrook White, 97, of Orlando, passed away on Sunday, September 8, 2024. 

She was born December 24, 1926, in Raleigh, North Carolina, a wonderful Christmas present for her parents William Gurney and Chellie Elizabeth Westbrook. 

An independent soul, Myrtle worked hard at her studies, graduating from Mars Hill College and The University of North Carolina, where as an A student, she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. She eventually received her Master’s in Library Science from the University of Central Florida, where she also worked as a librarian from 1964 until her retirement in 1991. While at the University of North Carolina, she met Frank White, a handsome Army Air Corp veteran, who wooed her with the offer of a peppermint lifesaver during class, which led to a wonderful marriage that ended 65 years later with Frank’s passing. 

Myrtle was a longtime member of Broadway United Methodist Church. She also was an avid gardener and tennis player and loved vacationing with her family in St. Augustine Beach. 

Myrtle is survived by her son Francis J. White Jr. (Eileen,) daughter Pamela White (John,) 3 granddaughters: Erin Marie White, Elizabeth Cherry (Paul) and Kathleen O'Dowd (Ryan); grandson Bradley J. White, and great-granddaughters, Morgan and Hannah O’Dowd. 

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 5, 2024, at Broadway United Methodist Church, 406 E. Amelia St., Orlando. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Myrtle W. White to Broadway United Methodist Church.