Lillian Lorraine White, 97, of rural Ottumwa died at 6:40 p.m. November 7, 2026 at Bloomfield Care Center.
She was born August 11, 1929 in Ottumwa to Enos and Isabelle Peterson Proctor. She married Robert Layne White September 16, 1949 and he preceded her in death February 16, 2018.
A 1947 graduate of Ottumwa High School, Lillian had worked for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company for a short time. She had also worked the candy counter at Spurgeon’s where she met her future husband, Layne.
Raising her family as she helped her husband on the farm, she had been a 4-H leader. She and her husband were long-time members of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church.
Surviving are her 3 sons, Dennis (Connie) White of Blakesburg, Douglas (Terri) White of Rockland, WI and Donald (Janette) White of Ottumwa; 11 grandchildren, Brent (Shelly) White of Blakesburg, Brock (Brenna) White of Ottumwa, Krista Phillips of South Carolina, Katee White of Ottumwa, Krissy Allen (Casey) of Ottumwa, Jessica (Matt) Herrmann of Westby, WI, Jacob (Katelyn) White of Rockland, WI, Jeremiah (Victoria) White of Rockland, WI, Ashley (Kirk) Artist of Ames, Renee (Logan) Fiala of Johnston, Whitney (Trevor) Pullen of Johnston; 29 great-grandchildren; 4 great-great-grandchildren; and sisters, Jean (Charles) Swaim of Drakesville, Wanda (Kenneth) Long of Bloomfield and Judith (Richard) Brown of Topeka, KS.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Kathleen Griffin and Marilyn Perkins; and a brothers-in-law, Bill Griffin and Ray Perkins.
Visitation will be open at 11 a.m. Sunday, November 15th at Reece Funeral Home with family present to greet friends from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, November 16th at Reece Funeral Home with Pastor Danny Cary and Pastor Doug Glosser officiating. Burial will be in Mount Zion Cemetery south of Ottumwa.
Memorials may be made to Mount Zion Country Chapel.
