Edith B. Whitehouse-Lewis

Edith Whitehouse-Lewis “Edith B.”, 81, of Midvale, O., formerly of Uhrichsville, O., passed away on Saturday, June 26, 2010 at Union Hospital in Dover, O., following a period of declining health.

Born January 5, 1929 in Uhrichsville, she was the daughter of the late Leonard and Petrenella “Nellie” (Neighbor) Whitehouse.

Edith grew up in the Uhrichsville area and was a graduate of Uhrichsville High School in the class of 1946 before attending the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. She later lived in the northwestern suburbs of Chicago for over twenty years before returning to Uhrichsville in the 70’s.

A woman of many talents, Edith was a gifted musician and professional actress who shared her talents with her community by playing an active role in numerous local theater organizations including the Deersville Players, the Canton Players Guild and the Little Theater of Tuscarawas County where she was inducted into the Marquee Club in May of 2010. She was a longtime member of Actors Equity and enjoyed the opportunity to perform professionally with many famous actors and actresses over the years.

Edith will be well remembered locally for her unique skills as a piano tuner and technician, following in her father’s footsteps. Early in her life she helped with serving refreshments to soldiers as they passed through “Dreamsville USA” on their way to fighting in WWII. She also played violin with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic, as well as in string ensembles with her brother. For many years, she was the choir director for Uhrichsville First United Methodist Church and, most recently, had been involved with the choir at Uhrichsville First Christian Church where she was a member. She has been a member of Dennison Rotary since 1993 and in 2000 she became the first woman to serve as president of the Dennison Rotary.

Her surviving family includes her husband, Robert James “Jim” Lewis to whom she was married on September 2, 2006; four children, Kathe Wilson and her husband, Jim Edgar, of Oregon, Ill., Richard Paul Wilson and his wife, Anne Grove, of Worthington, O., Robert George Wilson and his wife, Sally, of Millersburg, and Tyler James Wilson of McHenry, Ill.; five grandchildren, Carrie Ann Donohoe of S. Car., Ariel Tahireh Wilson of Portland, Ore., Charles “Eddie” Ballou of Pueblo, Co., Shawn Tyler Wilson of McHenry, Ill., and Robert “Brent” Wilson of Millersburg; and six great grandchildren, Jayden, Jacob, Johnathan, Isaac, Victoria, and Christopher.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbara Alice Wilson; her brother, Richard “Dick” Whitehouse; and her first husband, S. Robert Wilson.

A memorial service and celebration of Edith’s life, officiated by the Rev. Dr. Larry L. Miracle, will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 1, at Uhrichsville First Christian Church with lunch immediately afterward. Interment will be in Uhrichsville’s Union Cemetery at a later date.

Family and friends are invited to call at the R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Those wishing to honor Edith’s memory by a charitable contribution are encouraged to do so to the Uhrichsville First Christian Church.
R.K. Lindsey Funeral Home, Inc.
(740) 922-1970
www.lindseyfh.com