Obituary: Frances White – Updated
Frances May White
Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt, Frances May
White passed peacefully on January 26th after 92 blessed years of life. Deaf
since the age 13, Frances refused to see this as a detriment, developed a
passionate heart for deaf children, and taught for over 40 years in several
schools for the deaf, including many years at the Texas School for the Deaf
in Austin. As a high school math teacher, she encouraged her students to
achieve high scholastic goals and attend college.
Frances was a Girl Scout leader and sponsor of the Junior National
Association of the Deaf on the TSD campus. She graduated from the Alabama
School for the Deaf, received her Bachelor’s degree from Gallaudet
University where she was Valedictorian, and a Masters degree in Education
from the University of Texas at Austin. In 1981, after her retirement from
teaching, she accompanied her husband Ralph to the Oklahoma school for the
Deaf where he served for 10 years as the first deaf superintendent.
Born in Alabama, she was known as the quintessential Southern lady, famous
for her cooking and hostess skills. She exhibited quiet dignity and strength
with a wonderful sense of humor. Frances loved animals and was known to
befriend neighbor’s cats when she did not have her own.
She is survived by her daughter, Vicki Vystrcil and son in law, John
Vystrcil of Frisco TX, grandsons Chris and Scott Vystrcil, great
grandchildren Cassandra and Christopher Vystrcil, nieces Georgia Warwick and
Carolyn Green, and nephew John May. She was preceded in death by her
cherished husband of over 55 years, Ralph White, and her brother, John May.
The family invites you to attend a Celebration of Life memorial service to
be held at Grace United Methodist Church in Austin TX on Saturday March 5th,
2011. It was Frances’ wish that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made
to Deaf Seniors of America, 6100 Jays Lane, Austin, TX 78749, Best Friends
Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Rd, Kauab, UT 84741, or Gallaudet
University, 800 Florida, Washington DC 20002.