Elizabeth Erna White

Elizabeth “Liz” (Hess) White, 87, of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, passed peacefully
with her family by her side on Monday, December 4, 2023. 
 
Elizabeth was born January 1, 1936, to the late Rupert and Elizabeth Hess in
Baltimore, Maryland. Her parents were young immigrants from Munich, Germany.
Her father worked as a bread baker for Koester’s Bakery and her mother was a
homemaker. Elizabeth grew up the youngest of six children: Henry, Rupert, Hilda,
Albert, Roman and Elizabeth. She was full of life and loved dancing, roller skating
and going to the beach with her siblings.  She graduated from St. Paul’s Vocational
High School and went straight to work for Household Finance Corporation.  It was
there that she met, or rather, slid into, her lifelong love, Elbert "Ed" White, while
twirling down a hall in her ballet-like slippers. They quickly fell in love and were
soon married. They had three children: Debbie, Gary, and Janice, who she took
great joy and pride in raising while working as the Assistant Resident Manager of
Lee Jay Apartments in Hillside, Md. In 1974, Liz went to work for the Department
of the Navy, Naval Air Facility at Andrews Air Force Base.  She worked her way
up from a clerk-typist in the Supply Department to Fiscal Accounting Assistant to
the Comptroller. She was directly involved in several major expansions of the
Naval Air Facility’s accounting systems and worked closely with the Navy and
Marine air squadrons on Joint Base Andrews.  Liz earned many performance
awards for her hard work, dedication, and her ability to “validate [expenditures] to
the penny.” In 1991, she was honored at the Navy Yard on board ship where she
was presented with the first Naval Air Facility Civilian Employee of the Year
Award. She retired in 1995 after twenty-one years of service to the United States
Navy. Since, she dedicated her life to her grandchildren and her volunteer service.
 
Liz will be most remembered for her love and fierce dedication to the American
Legion Post 259 Auxiliary Unit. As a member for over thirty-three years, she
served as Membership Chair for more than twenty years, Co-Chair of the Annual
USO Show, and the Chair of the Annual Fundraising/Yard Sales for the Post.  She
spent hours volunteering at Charlotte Hall Veteran’s Home, either hosting bingo,
bringing donations, or just visiting with the residents. She lived by the moto,
“Service before Self,” coordinating programs and donations for the Tanglewood
Early Childhood Center, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Cystic Fibrosis
Foundation. She routinely did outreach to local high schools to inform students of
scholarship opportunities and the Legion’s Oratorical Contest, as well as promoting
the Girls State and Boys State programs.  This time of year, Liz would be found
organizing the Annual American Legion Children’s Christmas Party at the Post
which meant so much to her. She would begin working months in advance to
ensure that each child who attended received a special gift along with special entertainment such as clowns, magic, Christmas music, and good food. Liz never tired when helping others. She will always be remembered for her infectious smile,
her giant loving heart, and her selflessness to serve children, veterans, the
Auxiliary, and the American Legion Post 259. 
 
Elizabeth joins her parents, four brothers, and sister in heaven. She is survived by
her husband, Elbert "Ed" White, of 70 years, her children (Deborah Wilkes, Gary
White and his wife Cindy, and Janice White), her ten grandchildren and her
fourteen great-grandchildren. She will be forever loved and greatly missed but her
spirit and energy will live on in the hearts of all those she touched. 
 
 Family and friends are welcome to gather at Lee Funeral Home, 6633 Old
Alexandria Ferry Rd., Clinton, MD, on Monday, December 18, 2023, from 4pm-
6pm with American Legion Auxiliary Services at 5pm and a prayer service at
5:30pm. Elizabeth will be laid to rest at Maryland Veteran's Cemetery,
Cheltenham, Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 10:30 a.m.