Amelia Josephine Wilhite

Amelia Josephine (Crosariol) Wilhite, 89, of Conway died on July 6, 2009. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on May 11, 1920. During her lifespan, she was a baker, seamtress, and social worker before retiring in 1984 as the athletic dormitory resident at the University of Central Arkansas, where she was affectionately known as 'Mama Bear'. She was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Conway, and also a past Worthy Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was the beloved matriarch of her extended family and enjoyed baking, canning, cooking, crocheting, gardening, and sewing. For much of her life, she lived in the communities of Little Italy and Wye Mountain in Pulaski County and the communities of New Dixie and Houston in Perry County. Preceding her in death were her husband, John Wilhite Sr.; her daughter, Tina Lyn (Wilhite) Miller; her parents, Felemia and Luigi Crosariol; her godfather, Pete Giacometi; and six of her seven brothers: Peter Crosariol, John Crosariol, Anthony Crosariol, David Crosser, Angelo Crosariol, and Albert Crosariol. She is survived by brother, Richard Crosariol of Indianhead, MD; sons and daughters-in-law John and Paula Wilhite, Jr. of Mt. Pleasant, TX and William C. 'Lum' and Debra Wilhite of Conway; daughter and son-in-law, Johnette and Jade Goldman of Heber Springs; grandchildren Mica Wilhite of Dallas, TX; Heath Wilhite and wife Hollie of Conway; Erin (Wilhite) Sears and husband Kale of Plano, TX ; and three great grandchildren Madelyn Wilhite of Conway; Finnegan Sears and Greyson Sears of Plano, TX. Pallbearers will be Heath Wilhite, Jade Goldman, Phillip Lipsmeyer, Terry Schafer, Chris Kordsmeyer, and Joe Mallett. Visitation will be held at the Harris Funeral Home in Morrilton on Wednesday July 8th at 5:00 P.M. followed by the rosary service at 7:00 P.M. The funeral mass will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Conway on Thursday, July 9 at 10:00 A.M. with the burial at Martindale Cemetery in Pulaski County. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph School Endowment (St. Joseph Catholic Church Endowment Fund, P. O. Box 72 Conway, AR 72033 - www.sjse.org) or Martindale Cemetery (42600 Hwy 10, Bigelow, AR 72016).

Amelia Josephine Wilhite

May 11, 1920 - July 6, 2009