Annadale White

Annadale Rhoades White, affectionately known as “Andy,” went to be with the shepherd and overseer of her soul (1 Peter 2:25) on November 13, 2024 at the age of 98 years. She passed peacefully in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho with her daughter and granddaughter at her side. 

Born March 18, 1926 in Anaheim, California she was the middle of five children to Lester Darius and Ida Louise Rhoads. As a young child Andy chose to be baptized and followed Jesus the following ninety years. 

Those following ninety years included graduating from Wilson High School in Long Beach, California, where she surfed on wooden surfboards and rode red cable cars. She attended Redlands University for a time, marrying Milton Robert “Bob” White in 1947, a U.S. Marine attending school on the G.I. Bill and a jazz musician. A few years later, she completed her B.A. and obtained her teaching credential at California State University, Fullerton. 

While mothering her two young children, Marilyn and Bruce, she taught elementary school for many years in Claremont, CA. She loved entertaining and was a wonderful cook. She also enjoyed backpacking, hiking and camping in the mountains with her husband and son. 

In the ‘70’s Andy completed her M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Northern Colorado and began teaching at Biola University in the education department and supervising its student teachers. Her love of teaching expanded to teaching Sunday school at church, something she did most of her life. 

Later, in the ‘80’s she retired from Biola University and moved with Bob to San Luis Obispo, CA where they became active members at Grace Church. She was involved in a variety of women’s Bible Study and prayer groups. She was also active in an international women’s sorority, P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization). While in San Luis Obispo, she took on the roll of caregiver for several years after her husband's stroke and paralysis. 

Even while caregiving, and also after, she continued her involvement in prayer groups and was generous in her hospitality. She often hosted groups in her home, welcomed neighbors, and offered room and board to many of her grandchildren over the years. Through her hospitality she instilled a legacy of faith in her grandchildren and those she ministered to. She loved her family passionately and was dearly loved by them.

Throughout her life she loved music, especially opera, and traveled with her sister, Frances and brother-in-law, Chuck, to attend operas in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was a voracious reader and had an insatiable desire to learn all her life. With those she met, she was quick to give a reason for the hope that she had. As she aged she stayed active, becoming an avid walker in her neighborhood.

Andy spent the last several years of her life living in Coeur d’Alene, ID near her daughter, one of her granddaughters, and three of her great grandchildren. Her death was peaceful and painless after a long life of faith and hope in Jesus and the eternal life he offered her. 

Andy is preceded in death by her husband, Bob White, and son, Bruce White. She is survived by her sister, Frances Zincke, her daughter, Marilyn (Largent) Dickey, her six grandchildren: Nicole (Largent) Beaver, Rebecca (White) Wriedt, Sarah (White) Winters, Byron Largent, Jonathan White, Lindsay (Largent) Wood and 14 great grandchildren: Lily, Matthew, Claire, Emma, Caleb, Makenna, Andrew, Aaron, Anna, Elise, Maddie, Leanna, Charlotte, and Jediah. She also leaves 12 nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on January 4, 2025 at 2p.m. at Grace Central Coast church in San Luis Obispo, CA.