Gretchen White

Gretchen E. White, 88 of Palatine, and former resident of Rolling Meadows, died Friday at Alden Estates of Barrington, after a long fight against cancer. She was born in Chicago on Nov. 18, 1921, to John George Zuber, and Zerilda Lillian (Herrick) Zuber. She married Abiathar White Jr., on September 18, 1940 in Davenport, IA. She worked in Chicago as a dental assistant before moving with her husband, (Bi), daughter Drusilla (Dru), and son John (Jack) to Rolling Meadows in 1953. There, she worked as a school secretary, beginning in the new Kimball Hill School. In 1967, she began working at United Air Lines as an executive assistant. After retirement in 1983, she worked as a cosmetics consultant for several more years. She is preceded in death by husband Abiathar White Jr., who was active in Rolling Meadows city government for several years, and also her sister Elsa Jane (Mitzi). She is survived by her daughter Drusilla (Dru) Short of Lakewood, Co, and son John (Jack) of Hawthorn Woods, IL, and granddaughters Laura (Laurie) White and Kathryn White. Memorial services will be held at Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist, 1025 N. Smith Rd., Palatine (847)-359-8440 on Sunday Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m.. Private family services were held on Monday Feb. 1. Interment will follow later at Bethel Cemetery, Wapello, IA. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Countryside Church, or the charity of their choice.

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