Meldene Wharton

Mildred Meldene (White) Wharton went home to Glory on Sunday, June 30, 2019, while in Beaumont, at age 88.

Visitation will be held at the Church of Christ, Groesbeck beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, prior to the funeral service.

Funeral services will begin at 2:30 Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at the Church of Christ in Groesbeck, with Brother Richard Williams officiating, and congregational singing led by Chris Wheat of the Northside Church of Christ in Waco.  Burial will follow in Fort Parker Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be Shayne Wharton, Casey Wharton, Rick Wharton, Philip Wharton, Aaron Wharton, and Thomas Michel.

Meldene was born September 1, 1930 to Vernon White and Ila Estelle Oates White in Old Union.   She graduated from Groesbeck High School in 1947 and obtained a Bachelor’s degree from Texas Women’s College.  She taught math a few years at a private school in Dallas, while also raising a family.

After their years in Dallas, Meldene and family moved back to Groesbeck in 1972.   With a houseful of five rowdy boys, Meldene was a busy mother and Cub Scout den mother, but she also worked in several different occupations all her life.  The work she did was to provide for her family.

Meldene had grown up as a member of the Church of Christ at Old Union and was a member of the Church of Christ in Groesbeck, raising her five sons in the church, sitting on the row with her every Sunday.    

She was an Avon representative since 1964 in Dallas, and the rest of her life in Groesbeck she took her Avon door-to-door making friends everywhere; and she stayed right up to date with technology with email and online sales but still liked to deliver to the door.  She was the oldest living Avon representative and had a 50-year Certificate.

In the seventies she sold insurance, representing Woodmen of the World (until the company changed).  In the eighties she was an Amway representative, and in the nineties represented Mary Kay. 

When life changed for Meldene and she was alone at home, she began sitting with elderly patients.  She believed in a life of service instead of dwelling on the various hard times and losses she suffered.  

Meldene had a great deal of energy and an infectious smile and brought joy to those she was around.  She enacted the Scripture Acts 10:38 following Jesus’ example she went around “doing good.”   She brought love and kindness to everyone she touched, and epitomized service and giving.   She was always there for people in need.

Meldene was always asking people to go to church with her and did bring friends to many services.    She loved to travel and be around people.    She had the courage to drive where she wanted to go, and trusted in Isaiah 41: 13 which states “I am the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not Fear; I will help you.”    When she was riding with others, she was the “GPS” telling the driver which was the best way to go on the most unpopulated streets.

Another scripture Meldene shared as her help during the times of losing some of her family was Lamentations 3:22-23, “his compassions (mercies) are new every morning” which encouraged her to begin each new day in faith.   Meldene moved to Waco four years ago to live with Eric and his family, and attended the New Road and Northside Church of Christ.    She never complained, no matter what her circumstances.

Meldene was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Imagene White; a son, James Allen Wharton; and her granddaughter, Suni Wharton.

She is survived by four sons and daughters-in-law, Bruce and Ramona Wharton of The Colony, Stuart and Sherry Wharton of Groesbeck, Eric and Michelle Wharton in Waco, and Kevin and Debbie Wharton of Beaumont.  Her grandchildren are: Richard Wharton, Philip Wharton, Shayne and wife Breatriz Wharton, Casey and wife Andrea Wharton, Aaron Wharton, Bethany Wharton, Rachel Wharton, Rebekah Wharton, and Dinah and husband Thomas Michel.   The great grandchildren are: Emery Thompson, Abigail Wharton, Phoebe Wharton, Jeremiah Wharton, and Priscilla Wharton.