Elizabeth "Beth" Whitehouse

Elizabeth (Beth) was born in Detroit, MI. She was the only child of the late John Duncan Gibson of Windsor, Ontario and the late Aleda Peterson Gibson of St. Clair, Michigan. Beth studied Fine Art at Washington University in St. Louis. After graduation in 1958, she designed women’s dress shoes for May Department Stores. Her late husband, Frederick Whitehouse, was an Electrical Engineer with Western Electric (AT&T/Bell Labs).

Fred’s career spanned many states as well as continents, enabling Beth to learn about life and culture in Nova Scotia, Barbados, Spain, New Jersey, and the Marshall Islands as well as the southeastern United States. Beth channeled these experiences into a life of giving and sharing to enrich the lives of others.

After living in Madrid, Spain, she co-founded El Primer Paso (The First Step) in Dover, NJ; a school with early childhood programs for dual language learners. Upon moving to North Carolina, she employed her passion and knowledge of Art and Design as a teacher at both Kennedy High School and North Forsyth High School. After she retired from teaching (after her husband passed away), Beth enrolled in Wake Forest University, earning a Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies at age 62. And, she continued to be an active part of the Winston-Salem community. She served as a docent at the Reynolda House, cared for patients in Hospice, and actively volunteered for The Shepherd Center of Greater Winston-Salem.

Her passions included Impressionist painters, Henry Moore (sculptor), Georgia O’Keefe, Scotland (which she visited to learn more about her Celtic roots), religious history, wild violets, her children, and her grandchildren. She was a member of Fairview Moravian Church.

Beth is survived by her daughter, Kathryn, of Atlanta, GA, and her son, James, daughter in law, Tracey, and grandsons, Graham and Jack, of Asheville, NC. Her loving, independent spirit will be missed by the many lives she touched.

A memorial service will be held 11 AM, Saturday, November 21st at Fairview Moravian Church. The family will receive friends following the service.

Any donations in her honor may be made to The Shepherd’s Center of Winston-Salem.