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Erna Johanna White

Erna Johanna White, of Grafenwöhr, Germany, at the age of 89 peacefully passed away in her sleep the morning of March 18, 2022 in Lacey, Washington at the home of her daughter, Ricarda and son-in-law, Secundino. She left her family with the gift of love for one another and peace.

She was born to Georg and Kunigunda Schopf on June 16, 1932 in Grafenwöhr, Germany. Her first love was Richard whom she married on December 10, 1953 in Erlangen, Germany. Her second love was Melvin whom she married on March 22, 1974 in Grafenwöhr, Germany. Since her husband was in the military she moved between Germany and the United States multiple times. When she retired, she lived in Germany until she left there in 2011 to be with her family in Washington.

Erna’s love for her family was extraordinary and family meant everything to her. She could turn any place into a home. She was always welcoming and there for you when you needed her for comfort; be it an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on, some advice, wisdom or encouragement, or if you just needed a hug, which were always the best. She loved to cook and bake, and you could just taste the love that she poured into the food that she made. She was an avid gardener and anything she planted bloomed beautifully. She enjoyed listening to music, singing songs and dancing. You could also find her enjoying word search puzzles and watching western movies.

Erna was preceded in death by her late husbands Richard Frank and Melvin V. White, and her brothers Josef, Georg, Manfred, and sisters Martha and Olga, and her daughter, Ingrid.

She is survived by her 5 children: Ursula, Ricarda, Monika, Rose and Melvin Jr.; son-in-law Secundino and Philip Sr. and daughter-in-law Mary. She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren: Joachim, Jutta, Ann and her husband Michael, Adam, Manuel and his wife Daniela, Angela, Marina, Delia, Natascha, Ashley, Maleah, Jaclyn and Philip Jr. as well as 13 great grandchildren: Jessica, Austin, Logan, Oliva, Sage, Enrique, Antonio, Nathalia, Omare, Jesse, Cole, Cody Claire and Natalie along with several sisters-in-law, numerous nieces, nephews and friends. 

Her life mottos were: „Der Glaube an Gott, gibt mir Kraft in jeder Lebenslage.“ – Unbekannt („The Belief in God gives me strength in every life situation.” – Unknown)

„Glücksein ist auch eine Tugend!“ – Ludwig Börne (Being happy is also a virtue!” – Ludwig Börne)

„Das Herz wird wohl immer seine Stürme haben.“ – Franziska zu Reventlow („The heart will probably always have its storms.”) – Franziska zu Reventlow