Gayle Wilhite

Gayle (Gerhard) Wilhite was born in Oakland, California in 1933, the second youngest of nine children. She graduated from Gardena High School and later married Charles “Kenny” Wilhite in 1954. They settled in Manhattan Beach, where they would raise five children and become embedded in the community.

Her world was shattered in 1980 when Kenny died at the age of 50. Now a single mother, she returned to work at Target, while earning her bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. She worked as a computer programmer, and then switched careers to professional acting, training and testing new medical doctors as a standardized patient and landing small roles in print and television. Her gumption and spunkiness had her working until her retirement at age 89. She was also a staple at the Acting Out Again program at Joslyn Center, having fun and making people laugh.

Gayle was also a devoted member of American Martyrs Parish for over 60 years, singing God’s Praise in the choir and proclaiming God’s word as a lector. Even when her eyesight was severely compromised, she still found a way to read music on her iPad!

Additionally, she was a long-time Manhattan Beach Police Department volunteer. She was one of the original members of the Victim’s Assistance Team and a Neighborhood Watch Block Captain. She was named Volunteer of the Year more than once. She would finally “retire” from the Police Department a few months before her passing.

Recently, she moved to an assisted living facility and she began tackling her new environment with her trademark persistence and determination. Unfortunately, she fell and broke her hip, an injury that led to several complications from which she would not recover.

She is survived by her five children and their spouses, Tony and Betsy, Paul and Anita, Jerry and Lorie, Becki and Craig, and Charles (Kenny, Jr.) and Georgette, 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Her family is comforted knowing that she is now back with her loving husband, her parents, her siblings, and all her friends and relatives in Heaven. Even better, she’s singing tenor in the biggest choir and doesn’t have to worry about not being able to see well enough to read the music!

Visitation will take place on Monday June 8, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., with funeral mass following at 10:00 a.m. at American Martyrs Catholic Church, 700 15th St., Manhattan Beach.

Interment will take place at 11:00 am on Tuesday June 9, 2026, at Holy Cross Cemetery, 5835 W Slauson Ave, Culver City.

In Lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to American Martyrs Church or Hope4 Kids International (https://www.hope4kidsinternational.org/)