Beth Whitney, Ponca City, Oklahoma, resident, died Tuesday, September 7, 2021, surrounded by family. She was 92.
Elizabeth (Beth) Eloise Gile was born on September 18, 1928, in Republic County, Kansas, the fourth of twelve children, to W.L. “Roy” and Julia (Holgerson) Gile. She attended the local rural school with her siblings, including making the 1.5 mile walk to and from school. When that school closed due to a teacher shortage associated with World War II, her family moved to Concordia, Kansas, so Beth and her siblings could continue their education. While in high school, she enjoyed taking woodworking and shop classes. She graduated high school in 1946 and began working for Fidelity State Bank in Concordia, Kan. She married her high school sweetheart, Royal Whitney, on August 4, 1951, in Concordia, and she moved to Ponca City, Oklahoma, as a new bride. Beth worked at Continental Oil Company in Payroll for four years prior to having children. Beth loved being a stay-at-home mother to her three children. She enjoyed baking, gardening, sewing, picnics, and traveling. Beth loved her grandchildren so much and enjoyed doting on them as only a grandmother can do. She was very proud of her great-granddaughters.
She is survived by her children—Paul Whitney and his wife Nancy of Ponca City, Okla., Mark Whitney and his wife Linda of Houston, Texas, and Pam (Whitney) Schwager and her husband Bruce of Edmond, Okla.; five grandchildren—Carl Schwager and his wife Caitlin of Lenexa, Kan., John Whitney and his wife Clare of Houston, Texas, and Mary, Scott, and Curt Schwager of Edmond, Okla.; two great-granddaughters—Amelia and Elaine Schwager of Lenexa, Kan.; five sisters—Joan Meili of Wichita, Louise Kempton of Salina, Trudi Heide of Abilene, Janet Shrader of Concordia, and Martha Gebhart (and her husband Jack) of Salina; one brother---Perry Gile (and his wife Margaret) of Beatrice, Neb.; two sisters-in-law—Nancy Davis of Savannah, Mo. and Elnora Whitney of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; and numerous loved nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Royal Whitney in 2004, an infant son, her parents, four sisters (Jean Heisley, Aileen Denning, Phyllis Gould, and Marie Nelson), one brother (Glen Gile), ten brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 408 South Eighth Street, Ponca City, Okla. 74601 or to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund at curealz.org
