Sarah "Leona" White

Sarah “Leona” White, 101, of Centre Hall, PA, passed away suddenly on Monday, August 15, 2022 while enjoying life with family in Mill Gap, Va.

She was born July 29, 1921 in Hillsdale, a daughter of the late John Henry and Sarah Caroline (Douglas) Gromley. On June 22, 1946 she married Donald J White and moved to Juneau, where she lived and raised her family for 60 years. Don preceded her in death in 1999.

Leona worked in Pittsburgh during WWII as a munition’s inspector in an artillery plant. Always an eager learner, she took classes at night to become a secretary. She worked for the Navy Dept and after the war, Veterans Affairs. She ended her career as a reading aide in the Punxsutawney Area school district. At 101, Leona was still reading books on her iPad and texting her family and friends on her iPhone. Leona strived to be active. During retirement, she and Don spent their summers traveling the US visiting all 50 states and wintered in Nokomis, Fla. where they enjoyed boating and fishing. Later in her long life, she traveled throughout Europe. But Leona’s true passion came out when she learned the fine art of China painting. She painted over 80 dolls, many full-service sets of China, and various objects we all treasure. She won many blue ribbons at the Grange Fair. In her spare time, she created beautiful items with her needle crafts. Leona was physically active, exercising on a regular basis up into her late 90’s. Bocci ball was a favorite as well as weekly card and board games.

Surviving and missing her are children Donna Lee Kinsey and husband, Rev. Bill Kinsey of Morgantown, WV, Gregory White and wife, Barbara of Warrior’s Mark, Marsha Lunsford and husband Gil, of Mill Gap, Va., and Wanda White and husband, Mike Negra of Centre Hall; four grandchildren, Justin Anderson and wife, Marti of Aldie, Va. Erin Morrison and husband, Ron of Cranberry Township, Abbey Suchoski and husband, Mike of Charleston, SC and Sarah Rogers and husband, Jeff of Knoxville, TN; two great-grandchildren, Charlie Jane Anderson and Harper Leona Morrison.

In addition to her parents and husband, Leona was preceded in death by her grandson, Eric David Anderson, and great-grandson Samuel Gilmore Rogers, as well as her 12 siblings.

To commemorate her incredible life, friends and family will hold a memorial service 2-4 p.m. Saturday, September 3 at Valley Chapel United Methodist Church in Juneau, PA and a Celebration of Life held at Centre Hills Country Club in State College, PA 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, September 4.

In keeping with her wishes, Leona’s body was gifted for anatomical research. Memorial contributions may be made to Dare to Dream Therapeutic Horsemanship Center, 515 Wade Woods Lane, Monterey, Va. 24465; Highland County Volunteer Rescue Squad, PO Box 268, Monterey, Va. 24465; St. Francis de Sales Music Ministry, 1 Guthrie Lane, Morgantown, WV 26508; or UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation, 4401 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15224.