Betty L. White

Dec. 8, 1928 - Dec. 5, 2016

Betty L. White passed away peacefully on Monday December 5, 2016 surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Ada, Oklahoma on December 8, 1928. She was the fifth of six children and the only daughter of the late Jesse and Pearl Hammond of Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Betty and her brothers grew up in Okmulgee, they later moved to Texas before settling in Ceres, California in the 1940's.

In 1945 Betty married Charles Gerhart they had one son Ronald Eugene and two daughters Phyllis Elaine and Charlene Jennet. In 1947 she was a car hop at The Long Dog Drive-In by Modesto High School. 1949 She started working seasonal in the lab at Tillie Lewis Cannery on 9th Street in Modesto, CA and contoured to do so until they closed.

In 1952 Betty married the love of her life Eugene (Gene) White they had two sons David Allen and Eugene Edwin Jr. and one daughter Amy Samantha. In 1955 they bought a new home in Ceres, California where they raised their five children and grew old together. In the early 1960's Betty and Gene owned Central Coffee Shop on Central Avenue in Ceres, Ca. In 1981 she went to work for Hershey's Chocolate Factory in Oakdale, California. After 13 years at Hersey's she retired in 1993.

During her retirement she enjoyed staying active. She was a member of the following:

Ceres Christian Church, V.I.P.S. Volunteers In Police Services, Ceres Senior Citizen Club, Teamster Local Union 748 since 1949 then transferred to Teamster Local Union 386 in 1981.

She would also volunteer her time to pack food boxes for needy families during the holidays.

If Betty was known for one thing it would be her warm loving smile. That smile would brighten up the room the moment she walked in. One of the ways she would spread her love was to share platers of Hersey's goodness with her doctor office's, the church, Ceres P.D. but most of all she love feeding chocolate to the Ceres PD when they would sit on her corner and do radar to catch speeders. She made sure they had their chocolate fix.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Eugene White, her daughter Phyllis Tschantz, and son Ronald White. She is Survived by daughters Charlene White, Amy White and son Eugene White Jr., nine grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

Viewing is Thursday, December 15 at Salas Brothers from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held on December 16 at 10:00 a.m. at Salas Brother Chapel, 419 Scenic Dr., Modesto.

-Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Wednesday, December 14, 2016