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Rita Faye Gephart White, 74, of London, passed away August 14, in Dunedin, New Zealand, where she was residing with her son James and his family.
Born to Lee and Myrtle Gephart, Rita graduated from Junction High School in 1943, at the age of 14 years. At age 15 she was living and working as a secretary in Austin. She graduated from Trinity University and married Charles White of San Antonio.
Following a period at the University of Wisconsin, they moved to California where they taught school and played active roles in securing rights, such as maternity leave, for teachers.
Their son, James Daniel Lee White (JHS class of 1976), was born in California. In 1973 the family returned to Kimble County and made their home on land below Yates Crossing that had been in the Gephart family since the 1880’s, close to her brother, L.D. Gephart.
After Charles’ death in 1990, Rita stayed active enjoying nature, learning new things, and helping others learn. Fiercely independent, she spent many hours propagating wildflowers, listening to her birds, working with the library, and playing a “friendly, not cutthroat” game of bridge. As her son James move around the world, she welcomed the chance to go to the new places, to see and learn about the rocks, trees, and oceans so different from her native Kimble County.
She left in the New Zealand Spring, with sprigs of the first flowering plum trees and early rhododendrons gracing her room with birds in full courtship song outside.
Her death followed a fight with cancer. She remained concerned for other people ahead of herself to the end.
She is survived by her son, James White; daughter-in-law, Linda; and granddaughter, Lee, of New Zealand; her brother, L.D. Gephart, and wife, Myrna, of London, and by many friends.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, August 21, at the First Presbyterian Church in Junction. The family requests that donations to the Cancer Society or the Kimble County Library be made in lieu of flowers.