Sara Louise Gillingham Whitehead
Retired English teacher
Sara Louise Gillingham Whitehead, 86, of Kingwood, Texas, died Thursday, February 13, 2014, in Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas Medical Center.
She was born March 15, 1927 (Beware the Ides of March!), in Elizabeth, a daughter of the late Charles E. and Julia E. Bakush Gillingham.
Deceased are her loving husband of 44 years, Ralph H. Whitehead Jr. in 1998; a son, Ralph Henry “Hank” Whitehead III in 2004; and a sister, Lucille, who died in infancy.
Surviving are a devoted daughter and son-in-law, Jeanne W. and Richard M. Potter of Kingwood, and dear friends and family from everywhere she graced.
Mrs. Whitehead was a graduate of Clairton High School and University of Pittsburgh, where she did post graduate work and was a member of Phi Mu sorority.
She lived in Moon Township for many years, before retiring as an English teacher at Aliquippa High School. Prior to relocating to Houston, Texas, in 1981, she lived in Philadelphia and the Netherlands.
Mrs. Whitehead was a member of James Tull Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Humble, Texas, and Atascocita Presbyterian Church in Humble.
She was a wiz at Jeopardy, loved music, had a beautiful alto voice and was known to strum her ukulele while belting out the occasional raunchy tune. She will be truly missed by all who were fortunate enough to have known her.
The professionals at Methodist Hospital, especially the West 8 staff, showed her loving care.
Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Frye Funeral Home Inc., 427 West Main Street, Monongahela, PA 15063, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, February 21, with the Rev. Andrew Scott officiating. Committal services and interment will follow in Monongahela Cemetery.
The family suggests contributions in her memory to Star of Hope Mission, 6897 Ardmore, Houston, TX 77054.
Condolences may be made to the family at www.fryefuneralhome.com.