Eloise Whiting

Eloise Udall Whiting, 97, passed away peacefully at her home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, on September 29, 2022, surrounded by family. She was born November 14, 1924, in St. Johns, Arizona, the fifth of Levi and Louise Udall's six children. Her childhood was a happy one, filled with family and friends, including her lifelong friend Warren Whiting. Even as a child, she was known for her sense of humor. She was valedictorian of her high school class. Eloise graduated from the University of Arizona in 1946 with a degree in education. In the same year, she and Warren were married, following his service in WWII. The couple then moved to Pasadena, California, where Eloise taught elementary school for three years, and their first child was born. The family moved back to Phoenix, Arizona for six years, welcoming two more children, and then to Richmond, Virginia, for "a third of a century", as she loved to say, where their two youngest children were born. Eloise taught and substitute taught for several years while in Richmond. Eloise and Warren retired to Albuquerque, New Mexico, living there for eighteen years, and then moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico in 2007, living next door to their youngest daughter. Eloise and Warren were married for over 61 years until his passing in 2008, and at the end of her life she was excited to think that she would see him again soon. Eloise was a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For her entire life, she served the church in many different teaching, service, and leadership capacities, as well as working in the Albuquerque temple for its first seven years. She mentored and influenced countless lives. She was proud of her Mormon faith and heritage but also proud of her family for whatever faith paths they chose. Eloise was an avid reader and writer, putting together many large books with collected stories and documents from the Udall and Whiting ancestors and giving copies to her children, grandchildren, and extended family. She also wrote for a wider audience. One of her essays was published in the book Hopi Quilting. She was instrumental in compiling a 600+ page history of her church in Virginia covering the years 1873-1973. She was proud of that effort and the hours she spent making sure the history had a usable index. After Warren's death, Eloise was very intentional about finding ways to serve in her new community of Las Cruces. Drawing on her experience of teaching children, she volunteered weekly in a kindergarten classroom for three years. She also created dozens of children's blankets which she donated to Project Linus. She truly cared about children, their education, and their need for security. Eloise had an amazing talent for making and keeping friends of all ages, for listening to, accepting, and encouraging people without judging. She loved to laugh and play games, especially Uno with her grandchildren, who knew her as "Gran". She loved to write letters, call friends, and invite people into her home. Wherever they lived, the Whiting home was a gathering place for family, friends, and neighbors. For about twenty years, both in Albuquerque and in Las Cruces, she held a monthly "lunch bunch" potluck at her home, inviting anyone from church who wanted to come; the final lunch bunch was less than two weeks before her passing, with over a dozen friends visiting and laughing. Eloise liked to say that, instead of marching through life, she was dancing. Survivors include children Bruce (Linda) Whiting of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Colleen McCall (Chand Bhasker) of Amarillo, Texas, Marilyn (Russ, deceased) Parker of Ogden, Utah, Douglas (Dee) Whiting of Carlsbad, California, and Karen (David) Heiner of Las Cruces, New Mexico; 16 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren; and one surviving brother, Burr Udall of Tucson, Arizona. A memorial service will be held at the LDS Chapel, 2915 E. Idaho Ave, Las Cruces, at 1pm on Saturday, November 19, 2022. Friends may visit one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations to LDS Charities www.latterdaysaintcharities.org or Children's Reading Alliance www.childrensreadingalliance.org. Arrangements by Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. Bowman Ave. Las Cruces NM 88001. Please visit www.getzcares.com to sign the local online guest book.