Grace Whitham

Grace Heline (Johns) Whitham, 94, passed away November 22, 2015, in Olathe, Kansas where she lived at the Good Samaritan Society. She was born on September 26, 1921 to Louis and Florence (Heline) Johns in Cleghorn, Iowa. She was the oldest of three children followed by Martha Johns Griffith and Lawrence (Ole) Johns, who both preceded her in death.

Grace graduated from Cherokee High School where she excelled at playing the violin and was active in Rainbow Girls, holding the state-wide office of Grand Worthy Advisor. Grace then attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa for one year. She then attended the Vogue School of commercial art and fashion in Chicago, Illinois. Following school she went to work for a department store in Sioux City, Iowa where she was a milliner (hat maker) and created content for the store's advertising. During this same time period, Grace received an invitation to and attended a summer symphony series in Boulder, Colorado where she played the violin. Soon after World War II started, Grace felt the need to do something for the war effort as many of her generation did. She joined the Civil Aeronautics Administration (now called Federal Aviation Administration) to do her part and was stationed at the Cassoday, Kansas airfield where she was the manager. Soon after arriving in Cassoday, she met Wilbur Whitham and they married in 1947. They raised two sons in Cassoday where Grace embraced the role of being a stay at home Mom who would do anything for her family. She was active in the schools, church and 4-H clubs. In 2009 Grace moved from Cassoday to Olathe to be near her family.

Grace's life was guided by faith, love, optimism and curiosity. She will be remembered for her many artistic talents such as playing the violin, painting and clothing design. She will be remembered by others as someone who loved people and had a wide variety of friends of all ages. Her curiosity made her a life-long learner who loved to attend musical performances and travel with family and friends. At the age of 65 she finally realized a lifelong dream with her first trip to Europe. Upon her return she started a new job working as the assistant Cassoday postmaster. Grace was also young at heart.

Grace was an active member of the United Methodist Church of Cassoday, Kansas and the P.E.O chapter in Eldorado, Kansas.

She is survived by her two sons and daughters-in-law, Warren and Debbie Whitham of Olathe, Kansas and Wade and Cindy Whitham of Prairie Village, Kansas.; three grandchildren, Allison Thomas (Jim) of Boise, Idaho; Shane Whitham (Jessi) of Garnett, Kansas and Adrienne Whitham of Prairie Village, Kansas. The great-grandchildren are Kingsley Thomas, Wyatt Whitham and Graycelyn Whitham.

Grace will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by her family and many friends.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at 11:00am at the Cassoday United Methodist Church, 223 Washington St, Cassoday, Kansas 66842, where the family will receive friends following the service. Memorial contributions may be given to the United Methodist Church of Cassoday, Ks or the Good Samaritan Society of Olathe.