Sudden Death of Mrs. Edw. P. White Stricken With Paralysis While Riding in Auto--Funeral Friday

Edward P. and Lizabeth Halsey White | c1926

Southampton Press 
Thursday, October 27, 1932
Issue 1847, page 1

Our community was deeply saddened on Tuesday afternoon by the sudden death of Mrs. Edward P. White, who passed away about 4:00 o'clock a few hours after suffering a paralytic stroke while riding in an automobile.

Mrs. White had called at the Press office to leave the manuscript of an article on the New York State Historical Association aftermath--which appears in this week's Press--and as she left she said that she was going to Oyster Bay to attend a luncheon.  Entering the car, which was driven by her sister, Miss Abigail Halsey, she had gone only a block when stricken by paralysis and was immediately taken to her home, where she died six hours later.

Mrs. White was 68 years of age, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Henry Halsey of this village; she had lived here all her life and was prominently identified with all local civic and social affairs.  Her genial, kindly nature endeared her to all of her friends and associates, and her sudden passing was a grievous shock to all.

Gifted with much literary talent, Mrs. White was especially adept in historical research of events pertaining to Eastern Long Island and for some time has been Southampton Town Historian.  She was a frequent and welcome contributor to the Southampton Press, particularly on local historical matters.

Mrs. White was a descendant of Richard Terry and Thomas Halsey, founders of Southampton.  She was the organizing Regent of Southampton Chapter, D. A. R., secretary of the Southampton Colonial Society for many years; a member of the Society of Founders and Patriots of America; during the World War secretary of the Red Ross and after the war chairman of the Civic League.  One of her outstanding works was the collecting of Southampton Town records of the World War which is now being published.

She was largely instrumental in bringing to Southampton this month the annual conference of the New York State Historical Association.  She was deeply interested in the work of the association and gave much time and thought to making the conference a success.  And on the day of her death, the last work she did was to write of the "aftermath" of that conference and bring it to the office for publication.  The article appears on page four of the Press.  During the past year Mrs. White enabled the Press to enter the State-wide contest of the Historical Association for the best collection of historical news in the weekly papers of the State and for which the Press received honorable mention--due wholly to her research and well-written articles.

Surviving the deceased are her husband, Justice of the Peace Edward P. White; two sons, Captain Edward P. White, Jr., and Harry Halsey White; a daughter, Miss Elizabeth White; and a brother and sister, Rev. Jesse Halsey of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Miss Abigail F. Halsey.

Funeral services are to be held Friday afternoon at 2 'o'clock at the house.