Barbara J. White (83) of Effingham

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Published on July 15 2019 2:37 pm

Barbara J. White, 83, of Effingham, Illinois, went to Heaven to be with the Lord at 11:58 a.m. Sunday, July 14, 2019 at HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 18 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham with Rev. Kent Robinson officiating. Burial will be in Arborcrest Memorial Park in Effingham. Visitation will be held from 9-11 a.m. Thursday prior to the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be left by clicking here

Barbara was born August 15, 1935, in Effingham, the daughter of Alva and Alice (Campbell) Gillespie. She married Edgar “Sonny” White December 31, 1955 in Effingham, and he preceded her in death December 15, 2010. Barbara attended the First Baptist Church in Effingham and was a homemaker after being blessed with five children. She was a person of many talents from cooking, crocheting, crafting, and sewing. She loved reading, playing cards, games, and music (a big fan of “Elvis” and the “White Family Band” with members being her husband and children). But mostly she loved being with her family. She had such a warm heart and open arms to everyone. She will be greatly missed.

Barbara is survived by her daughters, Melinda (Harvey) Stortzum of Effingham, Cathy Phillips of Altamont, and Alicia White of Effingham; sons, Steve (Lola) White of Shumway and Jamie (Kathleen) White of Highland; grandchildren, Justin Stortzum and Joshua (Rachel) Stortzum both of Effingham, Brad (Beth) Phillips of Nashville, TN, Brittany Phillips of Effingham, Rachel (Buddy) Mayfield of Maryville, MO, Melissa Repking of Los Angeles, CA, Eric (Taylor) Repking of Effingham, Mitch (Morgan) White of Strasburg, and Cassandra White, Cullin White, and Ian White all of Highland; great-grandchildren, Keegan and Skylar Stortzum both of Effingham, Aaden, Aubrey, and Avery Schoonover all of Effingham, and Connolly and Hadlee Mayfield both of Maryville, MO; brother, Don (Ruth) Gillespie of Effingham;  brother-in-law, Charles “Chalk” (Carol) White of Vienna; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; an infant son, Philip; and sisters, Madelyn Koester and Janice Harris.