Eleanor White firmly believes that God has a plan for our lives.  As His plan has unfolded in her life, she has been tremendously blessed and has graciously passed down a rich heritage of ministry to her family and community.

According to Ellie, God’s plan started in high school when she met Roger White.  Roger, a “nice and handsome young man,” was a year ahead of her in school at DeSoto High School.  She was naturally honored when he began inviting her to the corner drug store for 5-cent cokes.  Eventually, he asked her to go to church and Sunday dinner with his family, who homesteaded in Prairie Center (the land where Sunflower Ammunition Plant is located).  Ellie immediately loved Roger’s family and they loved her right back. 

After graduating from high school in 1943, Ellie and two girlfriends moved to a small apartment in Kansas City, Kansas, to work as “Rosie the Riveters” at the North American Airlines plant.  In order for Roger to visit Ellie, his family had to save their gas rations from the farm.

They were married a year later in 1944, but in just three short months Roger was deployed by the Navy to Hawaii and then Japan for two years.  During this time, Ellie moved to Lawrence and worked at Pippert’s Automotive as a bookkeeper and Sunflower Ammunition in purchasing.  Roger’s parents attended the Friends Church in Lawrence and would often take her to church and revivals.  It was at one of these revivals, in 1945, that Ellie gave her life to Christ. 

When Roger returned from serving in the war, they were finally able to begin their married life.  Roger attended KU and Ellie continued to work at Pippert’s.  Ellie notes, “Living with Roger was an adventure.  He was an inventor and was always working on different projects.” They partnered in various ventures, including building apartments and a few homes.  In 1956, Roger started E & E Specialties, which manufactured display racks and store fixtures for the retail industry and at one time was one of Lawrence’s largest employers.  He was known to invent many of the machinery used in the plant’s operations. 

God sometimes asked Ellie to do things that she never thought possible.  In 1968, Ellie, along with several other women, was approached by Stonecroft Ministries to begin a Christian Women’s Club in Lawrence.  (Stonecroft’s mission is to equip and encourage women to impact their communities with the Gospel.)  Because she was shy, Ellie was hesitant, but after much prayer she knew God was directing her to accept the challenge.  God blessed the women’s efforts and the club grew to two groups.  As a byproduct, she helped organize and recruit leaders for 26 Bible studies in Lawrence, Linwood, Eudora, and Perry.  She also hosted one of the studies in her home and provided childcare so young mothers could attend.  Thanks to Ellie and the other women who answered God’s call, Christian Women’s Club was a vital organization in Lawrence through the 1980s.

Roger and Ellie attended Friends Church when their four children, Kathy, Ed, Keith, and Paul, were young.  However, when the kids grew up, they wanted to attend Lawrence Free Methodist and so Ellie and Roger followed them.  Over the years at LFMC, Ellie has served in various ministries.  She has particularly enjoyed leading the flower ministry for 26 years and helping with MOPS.  She is currently involved in Primetimers.

In addition to her four children, Ellie has 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.  She notes that her life has been filled with so many blessings.  She is gratified that all of her family is serving God in various forms of ministry. 

Thank you, Ellie, for allowing God to direct your life.  Your faithfulness and obedience has affected so many and will continue to do so for generations to come.