Mildred Lucille "Millie" DeLong White Walters

Mildred "Millie" Lucille DeLong White Walters, 84, of Waverly, Illinois, passed away on November 4, 2025.
Born on September 25, 1941, to Ralph Lindell and Elsie (Reynolds) DeLong, on the family farm, Millie grew up with a strong sense of determination and a heart for service that she carried throughout her life. She was preceded in death by her brother, Russell DeLong, and is survived by her sister, Sandra DeLong Mitchell.
Millie began her working career at Mobile Chemical before starting her family's Walters Custom Harvesting business with husband Orval. In the 1980s, she embarked on what became a well-loved role within the community as a bus driver for Waverly Community Unit School District transporting students from the Northwestern, Waverly, and Franklin school districts to special needs schools in Jacksonville as well as sports and extracurricular activities. She also served as a dedicated member of the Waverly Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, proudly becoming one of the department's first female members - a role that suited her courage, resilience, and devotion to others.
Millie married her high school sweetheart, Wendell White, and together they welcomed three children: Ralph Edward (Jacque) White of Minnesota, formerly married to Kathy Goodsell White, Wendy (Ben) Dixon of Illinois, and Russell (Linda White) of Missouri. She later married Orval "Cookie" Walters, with whom she shared a daughter, Deborah (Richard) Martin of Illinois. Millie was a loving and proud grandmother to Craig White, Richard (Valerie) White, Tony Tschetter, Tracy Tschetter, Alisa Hofer, Chris King, Jed King, Russell (Natalie) White II, Maresa (Jerry)White McDannald, and Latrisha (Shad) White Gingerich, and a great-grandmother to Samantha, Landon, Alysia (Carlos), Micah, Millie, Cameron, Neveah, Jason, Hannah, Angel, Estala, Monroe, Hudson, Bishop, Findley, and Charlie. She was preceded in death by grandsons Jacob White and Jared Martin, and sons-in-law Lloyd King, Ben Dixon, and Dan Martin.
A woman of grit, generosity, and a famously stubborn spirit, Millie was the kind of person who stood strong, spoke her mind, and would still drop everything to help someone in need. She took great pride in her community and served in many local organizations, including the Waverly American Legion Auxiliary, the Waverly Picnic Committee, and the Waverly Alumni Banquet. Millie also cherished her time spent researching family history and sharing her love of genealogy with others.
Millie's legacy lives on in the lessons she taught, the people she helped, and the family she adored. She will be deeply missed by all who know her.
Celebration of Millie's Life will be held at 11 a.m. Friday (November 14, 2025) at Neece-Airsman-Hires Funeral Home in Waverly, Il. Burial will follow in Waverly East Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of service Friday at the funeal home. Memorials may be made to Waverly Rescue Squad or Waverly American Legion and sent to Neece-Airsman-Hires, 349 E. Tanner, Waverly, Il. 62692. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.airsman-hires.com.