Susan S. "Sue" White

1943 - 2018

Susan S. "Sue" White

1943 - 2018

Susan "Sue" Serrott White passed away October 7th, 2018 while traveling overseas with her husband of 52 years, James F. White Jr. They were married in July of 1966 and spent their lives together supporting and loving one another, building a family, and perpetuating a legacy for future generations that is admired by people who know them.

Sue, an only child, was born August 24, 1943 and raised in Columbus, OH by her parents George Edward and Virginia Foster Serrott who preceded her in death. She was loved and adored by all for her kind and gentle demeanor, warm heart, amazing spirit, witty sense of humor, and beautiful smile that would light up a room. As one of her closest friends described her, "it wasn't about what she had, it was about the person she was".

Sue was a graduate of Columbus North High School in 1961 where she was a cheerleader. She went on to receive her Bachelor of Science in Education from The Ohio State University in 1965 where she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority serving as rush chairman and vice president. This is the same year her husband graduated from the The Ohio State University School of Law and where they met upon graduation thru mutual friends.

Sue and Jim ended up in Philadelphia together where she taught elementary school and Jim attended business school. After their engagement in 1965, they spent a year in New York City and Sue continued her teaching career in Montclair, NJ. They moved to Toledo in 1967 after their marriage at Maple Grove Methodist Church in Columbus, OH in 1966. For two years, Sue taught first grade at Stranahan Elementary School in Sylvania where she was selected to pilot a team teaching program with a fellow teacher. Sue and Jim started their family in 1969 and Sue spent most of her early life in Toledo raising her two children Carey (47) and Jim III (49) who currently reside in Chicago and Columbus with their spouses Colby Gifford and Kerri Gates White.

In her late forties, Sue went back to school and received a degree in interior design from Davis College in Toledo. Over the years, she became an accomplished and well recognized residential and commercial interior decorator having worked on a variety of projects up until her passing. She worked at Betty Rumpf Interiors in Toledo for eighteen years.

One of her most passionate and ambitious projects that reflected her creativity, sense of style and her interest in preservation and adaptive reuse, was the conversion of the historic stable at Hasty House Farm in Ottawa Hills into her personal residence. The "Stable" as is it is now known, is where Sue and Jim have lived since 1999. The restoration of the property has been featured in many news articles and interior design publications. Some of Sue's design work and collaborations included, Inverness Club, The Toledo Club, and Stone Oak Country Club, in Toledo and Hole-in-the Wall Golf Club, Royal Poinciana, and Audubon Country Club in Naples, FL

Outside of her interior design career, Sue had many interests in life including travel, golf, tennis, Ohio State football, and keeping up on current political events. She was also very involved in the Toledo and Naples, FL communities where over the years she served as a member or on the board of various organizations. These included the Junior League of Toledo, where she served as the co-chair of the Decorators Show House which restored the Libby House. She was also President of the Toledo Ambassadors at the Toledo Museum of Art and President of the Ottawa Hills Garden Club.

Her greatest achievement, and the one she was most proud of, was her role as a wife, mother, and grandmother. Creating a close and loving family environment was the most important thing to Sue. Affectionately known as "Mimi", she absolutely loved and adored her six grandchildren Libby (18), Abby (18), Foster (17), Maggie (17), Lily (13), and Sophie (13). She could be seen at countless soccer or lacrosse games, in a cold ice arena watching hockey, or at a school event.

Her most favorite place for family time and playing host, was up at her home on Torch Lake in Northern Michigan, a house which she also designed. It was here where she loved to watch her grandchildren play in the sand, jump off the dock, wake-board and tube as the sailboats passed by in the distance and aspen tree leaves shimmer in the light breeze. She was also very fond of organizing the occasional cocktail cruise with a gin and tonic in hand!

While Sue's final resting place has yet to be determined, there will be a part of her near the beautiful blue waters of Torch Lake where she created so many wonderful lasting memories for her family and friends. A tree on the property will be planted in her memory.

Sue is also survived by her brothers-in-law, David White and Timothy L. White with whom she was particularly close.

The family has planned a private memorial service at "The Stable", fitting given the time and energy she put into its preservation. A "Celebration of Life" party will take place for Sue Saturday November 17th from 5-9pm in the event space at the ProMedica headquarters at the Steam Plant in downtown Toledo. The family will also have a similar event in Naples, FL in early 2019.

In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to consider a donation to the Sue S. White Memorial Fund at the Toledo Community Foundation (300 Madison Ave, Suite 1300, Toledo, OH 43604), or a charity/organization of the donor's choice.

Stories, memories and condolences are greatly appreciated. You may share them at walkerfuneralhomes.com. There will also be an opportunity to share them at the "Celebration of Life" party. Walker Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.