Goldie Vernelle White

1930 – 2024

Goldie Vernelle Woodall White, 94, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma passed away peacefully on November 30th, 2024.

Vernelle was born in Hopper, Arkansas on January 27, 1930, the oldest daughter of Alva (Tubby) Shields and Lona Walker Shields. She spent most of her childhood in the Hopper and Caddo Gap area, where she went to school with her future husband, W.T. Woodall.  In a school memory book on Vernelle’s page, W.T. once wrote, “She’s mine if I can ever get her.” On the day of her high school graduation, Vernelle boarded a bus to Indiana, where W.T. had moved for work. They were married shortly after her arrival on May 23rd, 1948. They were still in Kokomo when they had their only child, their beloved daughter Mary, in 1949.

They spent much of their married life in Oklahoma, in Shawnee and then Edmond and were faithful members of the Edmond Church of Christ for many years.  Vernelle and W.T. both worked for the state of Oklahoma and the grandchildren loved to go see Grandma at work in her fancy suits and eat in the state capitol building cafeteria.  W.T. and Vernelle loved bluegrass music, and for the few years of retirement they got to spend together before W.T.’s passing, they enjoyed pulling their little camper trailer to bluegrass festivals in Oklahoma and Arkansas, frequently stopping to see and care for their parents in Arkansas. W.T. taught himself to play the guitar and Vernelle learned to play the mountain dulcimer and the autoharp, and they spent many happy hours playing and singing with their daughter’s family on the screened in porch of their little home on Campbell Street.  Until her eyes would no longer allow it, Grandma read her bible every day and anticipated the day that all of her loved ones would meet again in Heaven. Vernelle’s  “girls”, her daughter and three granddaughters were the focus and pride of her life. 

Following W.T.’s death on November 15th of 1989, Vernelle moved back to her home in Arkansas. She remarried and was preceded in death by her second husband, Kermit White. She was also preceded in death by her parents and her beloved siblings, Freeman Shields the eldest son of Tubby and Lona who died as a baby, Grady Shields and Donna Shields Pope. Vernelle is survived by her daughter, Mary, who has lovingly cared for her Mom for many years. She is also survived by granddaughters Malisa Langdon and husband Bruce Arcurio, Tara Fritsch and husband Andy Fritsch, and Tamara Morrison and husband Brian Morrison.  She was very proud of her great grandchildren, Mikaela Langdon Lukowicz and husband Dylan Lukowicz, Connor Langdon, Harper Fritsch, Ashwin Fritsch, Kate Morrison and Norah Morrison. She is also survived by loving nephews and nieces and their children and grandchildren. Grandma Nelle will be laid to rest beside her childhood sweetheart, W.T., at the Hopper Cemetery near the little homes in Arkansas in which they were both born. 

In lieu of flowers the family would like you to consider making a donation in Vernelle’s memory to Children Homes, INC at 5515 Walcott Road, Paragould, AR 72450 or by clicking here.

Graveside services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 9, 2024 at Hopper Cemetery in Hopper, Arkansas. Services will be officiated by Mr. Andy Fritch, Vernelle’s grandson-in-law, at her request.

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