Eldora Whye was born in Cleveland, Ohio on August 11, 1932, to the late Dewey and Currean Person. She was the eighth born of nine children. Lille, Rufus, Clara, Gertrude, Dewey Jr., and Catherine, all proceeded her in death. Eldora or “Doe” grew up in the Miles Heights area of Cleveland, Ohio and attended Beehive Elementary School, Moses Cleveland Junior High School and graduated from John Adams Senior High School in 1950.
She accepted Christ at an early age and attended Canaan Baptist Church until she was a young adult. After her marriage, she became a lifelong and devoted member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church. She served as a member of the Usher Board, Esther Cluster, Pastor Parish Board, Finance Committee and Mission Board. Additionally, Eldora served as the pianist for the Men’s Chorus, as well as the pianist for the communion ministry offering communion to the residents of the of the Willow Park Nursing Home for years.
Eldora was joined in Holy Matrimony to Walter N. Whye on June 5, 1954. Eldora was a devoted wife and mother to their two daughters Linda Currean and Brenda Ann. Her husband Walter, known as “Cookie,” preceded her in death on December 26, 1985.
Eldora worked as a school secretary at Gracemount Elementary School and ended her career at John F. Kennedy Senior High School. She was an avid crafter. She loved to sew and enjoyed making dresses for her daughters. She also made hats, knitted, and quilted. She loved to can food and visit farm stands.
Although Walter and Eldora along with their daughters traveled as a family to many locations throughout the United States and Canada, she began to travel internationally after her husband’s death. She traveled throughout the world with her daughter Linda and later with her granddaughter Rayna. She led the camel caravan through the Pyramids of Egypt and presided over history skits on the Nile. She stood in the waters of the Dead Sea; climbed the steps of Masada and walked the narrow streets of the old city of Jerusalem. She panned for gold in Alaska; bartered in Mexico and kayaked in Hawaii and she even had her pocket picked outside the Coliseum in Rome.
She loved to cruise with Brenda, Austin, and Ethan. She cruised to many ports throughout the Caribbean, as well as Canada. She loved to experience the cruises sitting on the balcony, ordering room service, and enjoying the peacefulness of the water. She thoroughly enjoyed taking shore excursions from the mansions of Newport and shopping in St. Kitts; seeing the final resting place of the Titanic passengers and even witnessed Ethan zipline across the cruise ship.
Eldora was a devoted and engaged grandmother to Austin, Rayna, and Ethan. They each claim that they were the favorite Grandchild. She was fully involved in their lives and activities. Known as “Gammy” to them and their friends, she was present for all their programs and activities in Cleveland and Ft. Lauderdale or wherever their activities took them. She visited the theme parks with her grandchildren and has attended more Character and Princess breakfasts and dinners than can be counted.
Eldora led a full life filled with the love of family and friends. She had a beautiful smile that enveloped strangers and made them feel like family. We celebrate her and her impact on all our lives. She leaves to celebrate her memory two devoted daughters, Dr. Linda Currean Whye, and Brenda Whye Beard (John); three favorite grandchildren Austin Berringer Bounds, Rayna Currean Whye, and Ethan Paul Beard; sisters Gwendolyn Eckstein and Lannie Saviour of Cleveland, Ohio; and a host of nieces and nephews, grand-nieces and nephews and friends.