Lillian Detherage

Lillian May "Gold" Wilhite Abington Detherage, 81, died Thursday, April 6, 2006, at Saint Francis Medical Center.

She was born Dec. 12, 1924, in Cape Girardeau, daughter of Lillian May Abington Wilhite and Dr. John Richard Wilhite Sr., and Arthur Leven and Lilian Copeland Abington through adoption. She and Kenneth C. Detherage were married in Reno, Nev., May 31, 1951.

Lillian attended Cape Girardeau public schools and earned a bachelor of science degree in education from Southeast Missouri State University. She later attended the University of Montana at Missoula.

Lillian retired after teaching 35 years at Ste. Genevieve High School, Ste. Genevieve, Mo., where she taught English, journalism and drama.

She was a member of Missouri State Teachers Association, First Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, and a past member of St. Mark's Order of Eastern Star 167.

She is survived by her husband of 54 years, Kenneth; a nephew, Arthur R. Wilhite of Cape Girardeau; cousins, Mrs. Lloyd A. Thompson (Lois Isabelle Pott) of St. Louis, Mrs. James Steger (Janet Abington) of St. Louis, and Arthur Abington of Tulsa, Okla.; and two sisters-in-law, Mrs. John R. Wilhite (Mary E. Brockmire) and Mrs. Robert E. Wilhite (Mary D. Johnson) of Cape Girardeau.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, John Richard "Jack" Wilhite Jr. and Robert Edward "Bob" Wilhite.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home Saturday from 4 to 8 p.m.

The funeral will be held at the funeral home Sunday at 2 p.m., with Greg Heinsman officiating. Burial will be in Cape County Memorial Park.

Memorials may be made to Ste. Genevieve High School.