March 15, 1919 - October 28, 2015
Fay B White, long time Naples resident, died peacefully at the age of 96, on October 28, 2015 at her home surrounded by family and caregivers.
She was the third of five daughters born to C.P. and Esther Balch in Hugo Oklahoma, and she had a wonderful childhood growing up on a small farm. Fay's father was the town's school principal and church lay leader, and her mother was an amazing homemaker, carpenter, electrician, businesswoman, inventor and seamstress.
Learning at her mother's side, Fay showed a special gift for design and sewing and began making her own clothes at a young age. After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1941, she worked for a designer in California, turning his sketches into finished garments. When WWII interrupted her career in fashion, she returned to Oklahoma and became a school teacher, a profession she proudly practiced until her retirement more than forty years later. She taught home economics and was known for her beautifully designed head-to-toe outfits, which often included matching covered shoes, purses, and hats. A petite model, she was frequently featured in regional magazines and on television wearing her designs. The next twenty years saw her high school sewing classes full, and a generation of young women proudly wearing their own creations inspired by their teacher.
In 1962 she and her husband, Neil decided to move to the lovely little fishing town of Naples, where they had previously enjoyed vacationing. They immediately joined the First United Methodist Church where they found a close circle of friends and remained members for life. Fay began a long career with the Collier County School System as a librarian at Lake Park Elementary School.
Following Neil's death in 1969, she went back to school, earning a master's degree in Library Science at Colorado State University. She then returned to Naples and opened the libraries at the new Lely High and later Barron Collier High.
Fay is survived by her only child, Esther Duncan (Ray) of Naples; four beloved grandchildren, Donna Ritchie of Gainesville Alan Ritchie (Kara) of Pensacola, Steve Duncan (Katie) of Chicago, and Rachel Duncan (David) of New Haven, CT; and three great grandchildren, Ananda, Truitt, and Allison.
Fay B White, long time Naples resident, died peacefully at the age of 96, on October 28, 2015 at her home surrounded by family and caregivers.
She was the third of five daughters born to C.P. and Esther Balch in Hugo Oklahoma, and she had a wonderful childhood growing up on a small farm. Fay's father was the town's school principal and church lay leader, and her mother was an amazing homemaker, carpenter, electrician, businesswoman, inventor and seamstress.
Learning at her mother's side, Fay showed a special gift for design and sewing and began making her own clothes at a young age. After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1941, she worked for a designer in California, turning his sketches into finished garments. When WWII interrupted her career in fashion, she returned to Oklahoma and became a school teacher, a profession she proudly practiced until her retirement more than forty years later. She taught home economics and was known for her beautifully designed head-to-toe outfits, which often included matching covered shoes, purses, and hats. A petite model, she was frequently featured in regional magazines and on television wearing her designs. The next twenty years saw her high school sewing classes full, and a generation of young women proudly wearing their own creations inspired by their teacher.
In 1962 she and her husband, Neil decided to move to the lovely little fishing town of Naples, where they had previously enjoyed vacationing. They immediately joined the First United Methodist Church where they found a close circle of friends and remained members for life. Fay began a long career with the Collier County School System as a librarian at Lake Park Elementary School.
Following Neil's death in 1969, she went back to school, earning a master's degree in Library Science at Colorado State University. She then returned to Naples and opened the libraries at the new Lely High and later Barron Collier High.
Fay is survived by her only child, Esther Duncan (Ray) of Naples; four beloved grandchildren, Donna Ritchie of Gainesville Alan Ritchie (Kara) of Pensacola, Steve Duncan (Katie) of Chicago, and Rachel Duncan (David) of New Haven, CT; and three great grandchildren, Ananda, Truitt, and Allison.
March 15, 1919 - October 28, 2015
Fay B White, long time Naples resident, died peacefully at the age of 96, on October 28, 2015 at her home surrounded by family and caregivers.
She was the third of five daughters born to C.P. and Esther Balch in Hugo Oklahoma, and she had a wonderful childhood growing up on a small farm. Fay's father was the town's school principal and church lay leader, and her mother was an amazing homemaker, carpenter, electrician, businesswoman, inventor and seamstress.
Learning at her mother's side, Fay showed a special gift for design and sewing and began making her own clothes at a young age. After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1941, she worked for a designer in California, turning his sketches into finished garments. When WWII interrupted her career in fashion, she returned to Oklahoma and became a school teacher, a profession she proudly practiced until her retirement more than forty years later. She taught home economics and was known for her beautifully designed head-to-toe outfits, which often included matching covered shoes, purses, and hats. A petite model, she was frequently featured in regional magazines and on television wearing her designs. The next twenty years saw her high school sewing classes full, and a generation of young women proudly wearing their own creations inspired by their teacher.
In 1962 she and her husband, Neil decided to move to the lovely little fishing town of Naples, where they had previously enjoyed vacationing. They immediately joined the First United Methodist Church where they found a close circle of friends and remained members for life. Fay began a long career with the Collier County School System as a librarian at Lake Park Elementary School.
Following Neil's death in 1969, she went back to school, earning a master's degree in Library Science at Colorado State University. She then returned to Naples and opened the libraries at the new Lely High and later Barron Collier High.
Fay is survived by her only child, Esther Duncan (Ray) of Naples; four beloved grandchildren, Donna Ritchie of Gainesville Alan Ritchie (Kara) of Pensacola, Steve Duncan (Katie) of Chicago, and Rachel Duncan (David) of New Haven, CT; and three great grandchildren, Ananda, Truitt, and Allison.
Fay B White, long time Naples resident, died peacefully at the age of 96, on October 28, 2015 at her home surrounded by family and caregivers.
She was the third of five daughters born to C.P. and Esther Balch in Hugo Oklahoma, and she had a wonderful childhood growing up on a small farm. Fay's father was the town's school principal and church lay leader, and her mother was an amazing homemaker, carpenter, electrician, businesswoman, inventor and seamstress.
Learning at her mother's side, Fay showed a special gift for design and sewing and began making her own clothes at a young age. After graduating from Oklahoma State University in 1941, she worked for a designer in California, turning his sketches into finished garments. When WWII interrupted her career in fashion, she returned to Oklahoma and became a school teacher, a profession she proudly practiced until her retirement more than forty years later. She taught home economics and was known for her beautifully designed head-to-toe outfits, which often included matching covered shoes, purses, and hats. A petite model, she was frequently featured in regional magazines and on television wearing her designs. The next twenty years saw her high school sewing classes full, and a generation of young women proudly wearing their own creations inspired by their teacher.
In 1962 she and her husband, Neil decided to move to the lovely little fishing town of Naples, where they had previously enjoyed vacationing. They immediately joined the First United Methodist Church where they found a close circle of friends and remained members for life. Fay began a long career with the Collier County School System as a librarian at Lake Park Elementary School.
Following Neil's death in 1969, she went back to school, earning a master's degree in Library Science at Colorado State University. She then returned to Naples and opened the libraries at the new Lely High and later Barron Collier High.
Fay is survived by her only child, Esther Duncan (Ray) of Naples; four beloved grandchildren, Donna Ritchie of Gainesville Alan Ritchie (Kara) of Pensacola, Steve Duncan (Katie) of Chicago, and Rachel Duncan (David) of New Haven, CT; and three great grandchildren, Ananda, Truitt, and Allison.
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