Eva Tollefson White's Obituary
Eva Tollefson WhiteMarch 21, 1908 - September 9, 2003Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on September 9, 2003 at the age of 95. Eva was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the 3rd of 5 children to Frank and Marie Keuss. She was raised in Tacoma, WA and graduated from Lincoln High School and Knapp Business College. She worked as a secretary for several years at Hoover Office Company while playing piano in a band on the side. Eva married her high school sweetheart, Thor Tollefson, and moved with him to Washington D.C. when he was elected to Congress. During this time, she wrote many articles for the Tacoma News Tribune, reporting on the political social scene. After 18 years, she returned to Tacoma when Thor was appointed Director of Fisheries for the State of Washington. Several years after Thor's death, Eva married Stewart White of Lakewood and they spent the next decade traveling and enjoying life together, eventually moving to Bellevue, WA to be closer to family. Active in the Aloha Club, the Tacoma Garden Club, the Tacoma Golf and Country Club, the Governor's Mansion Foundation, the arts community, and her church, Eva will be remembered for her classic sense of style, her award-winning floral designs, her talent as a gracious hostess, and her devotion to family and friends. She was preceded in death by her four siblings, two husbands, and a son-in-law. She is survived by her daughters, Rosemary Myers (Buck), Karley Meltzer (Jerry), and Janie Stewart; 4 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren. A memorial celebration will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 14, 2003, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 10630 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, Lakewood, WA. Remembrances may be made to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund, 8501 SE 40th Street, Mercer Island, WA 98040.
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