Obituary of Alethia G. White

Alethia G. White, 67, of East Donegal Twp. died unexpectedly at home on Wednesday evening, December 9, 2009 of natural causes. Born in Chester, PA, she was the daughter of the late Herbert and Lillian Muraszewski Grubb. In addition to her loving husband, she will be dearly missed by her daughter, Cheryl L., wife of Joseph A. Malpezzi, of Carlisle, PA; her son, Dean M. White, husband of Barbara J. Koonz, of Wayne, PA; her brother, Herbert, husband of Linda Grubb, of Niceville, FL; and two grandsons, Jonathan and Nicholas Malpezzi, both of Carlisle. Alethia attended Ursinus College where she met Don, her husband of 47 years. She graduated cum laude from Elizabethtown College and taught sixth grade in the Donegal School District for three years. Alethia obtained a Masters of Psycho-Sciences from Penn State University and enrolled in a doctorate program at Temple University. She worked as a child care counselor at the Penn State Child Care Resource and Referral Service for several years, counseling parents and child care providers in Harrisburg, PA. Beginning in 1986, she operated a private counseling and workshop practice, serving as a speaker to groups, and conducting individual short-term life management counseling for women. Later, she worked with Don and his partner, Phil Rudy, to develop standardized office procedures and policy manuals for their accounting practice. Although being raised in the city and having no prior interest in history or antiquities, upon moving to Lancaster County, she developed a passion for local history and preservation. This was culminated by the creation of the Winters Heritage House Museum in Elizabethtown. She and Jean Leicht led a group of concerned citizens to prevent the demolition of the second oldest building in Elizabethtown. They formed a non-profit group, developed a Board of Directors, raised funds, purchased the property and assisted in its restoration. During her tenure as president for the initial 10 years of the museum, Alethia developed policies and procedures, recruited 150 volunteers, and developed educational programming for the museum. She also developed a walking tour and wrote brochures for the museum. Alethia was named "Woman of the Year" by the Elizabethtown Business and Professional Women in 1996. She was a speaker at the 12th Annual Conference on Historic Preservation in Scranton, PA in 1990. She served several terms on the Board of Directors for the Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County. While at the Trust, she developed several walking tours of three communities in Lancaster County that earned state and national recognition. In addition, she served on the Facade Review Board of Elizabethtown Borough for several years; a member of the Social Studies Curriculum Task Force at Elizabethtown High School; a resource consultant for the local elementary school teachers, and to the I.U. teachers of gifted children, integrating history and architecture into their curriculum. In more recent times, after restoring and moving into a 1720's era stone farm house, she developed a keen interest in gardening and quilts. She truly loved her old "farm house" which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But who she was is so much more important than what she did. She has a warm and contagious smile, was very compassionate toward others, and was a great listener. A memorial service will be held on Friday, December 18, 2009 at 11:00 AM at Leffler Chapel on the Campus of Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA. Interment will be private. There will be no viewing. Family and friends are invited to greet the family at a reception at the Susquehanna Room at the College immediately following the service. However, the family will receive those that are unable to attend the reception at Leffler Chapel on Friday morning from 9:30 AM until the time of the service. The family requests that flowers please be omitted. If desired, contributions may be made to Elizabethtown Preservation Association, Inc., Winters Heritage House Museum, 43 East High Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022, or to Elizabethtown Public Library, 10 South Market Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022, or to Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County, 123 North Prince Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.