Eleanor White Obituary

Eleanor (Ellie) Tripkos White, 92, went to be with her Lord Jesus Tuesday, January 31, 2017, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, Kansas. She had a special time on Saturday with her kids and their spouses where a family photo was taken at Bridge Haven Memory Care Residence where she lived. Monday morning she had a massive stroke and became non-responsive.

The family will greet friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. prior to a Celebration of Life Service at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 4, 2017 at the Lawrence Fee Methodist Church, 3001 Lawrence Ave, Lawrence, KS. Burial will follow at Prairie Center Cemetery in Prairie Center, Kansas, South of Eudora, KS.

Eleanor June Tripkos was born on December 14, 1924 on the family farm in Johnson County, near DeSoto, Kansas the daughter of William T. and Mary Ann (Green) Tripkos. Her siblings included brothers Raymond and James (Jim) Tripkos, and sister, Wilma (Jean) Maness who preceded her in death.

Ellie met the love of her life, Roger L. White, at DeSoto High School as a freshman. After graduating from high school in 1943, Ellie and two girlfriends moved to a small apartment in Kansas City, KS to work as "Rosie the Riveters" at the North American Airlines plant. Roger and Ellie were married May 11, 1944, three months before he was deployed by the Navy to Hawaii and Japan for two years. During this time Roger's parents attended the Lawrence Friends Church and would take Ellie to church and revivals. It was at one of these revivals, in 1945 that Ellie gave her life to Christ.

While Roger was in the service Ellie worked as a bookkeeper at a local Automotive Parts store. After Roger returned they started their family, and in the evenings and weekends built several houses and duplexes together. In 1953 she supported Roger as he started E and E Specialties and was the bookkeeper for several years.

Grandma Ellie loved her family and the Lord. She read her Bible often and prayed for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a gracious hostess and was always serving her large family and others in her home.

She was a member of Lawrence Free Methodist Church and served in various ministries including MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and the Flower Committee, providing flowers for the church sanctuary, new mothers and the ill often from her own flower garden. Before 1979 she was a long-time member of the Lawrence Friends Church where she was active in teaching children's Sunday school. She helped start Lawrence Christian Women's Club in1968 and helped organize and recruit leaders for 26 Bible studies in Lawrence, Linwood, Eudora, and Perry, KS.

Roger and Ellie were married for 50 years before he passed away in 1995.

Survivors include her daughter, Kathy Schmidt and husband Rick, Lawrence, and three sons, Ed White and wife, Peggy, Lawrence; Keith White, Haviland, KS; and Paul White and wife, Kathy Wichita. KS; 12 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Hope S. White and grandson, Caden M. White.

Memorial contributions may be made in her name to Camp Quaker Haven where Ellie's husband, Roger, and three of their children made decisions to follow Christ. These may be sent in care of Warren McElwain Mortuary.

Online condolences may be posted at warrenmcelwain.com.