Caril Judith White

Caril J. White (nee Porter), passed away suddenly on October 28, 2023 at the age of 77 in Arlington, Virginia. A native of Southern California, she was born in Los Angeles in 1945 and grew up near the ocean in Newport Beach.

She raised her family in San Diego, where she was active in a variety of school and community organizations. She is survived by her sons Kirk Odegard, and his wife Gretchen; and Derek Odegard, and his wife, Elizabeth. She was also a proud and loving Grandma/Ama to her three grandchildren, Anneliese, Soren, and Lemuel.

Caril had a heart for helping children, and worked full-time in children’s ministry at her church in San Diego for many years. She eventually felt called to do mission work in Vilnius, Lithuania, where she was a teacher. Upon her return from Lithuania, Caril relocated to Swannanoa, North Carolina, where she taught at Emma Elementary School in nearby Asheville. Upon retirement, she moved to Arlington to be closer to her family.

In addition to her passion for working with children, she loved crafts, music, reading, and being near the water. Above all else, Caril had a steadfast Christian faith that gave her a bedrock of hope, strength, and solace.

A memorial service has not been planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to World Vision, an international Christian humanitarian organization, at https://www.gofundme.com/f/caril-white-children; or Manna, a food bank in Asheville, North Carolina, that served many of her students when she lived there, at https://www.gofundme.com/f/caril-white-manna