Celeste
Celeste Dervaes Whitehead
Celeste Dervaes Whitehead (1/7/21) 89, passed away January 16 in Lynchburg VA.
She was born in Tampa, FL, the youngest of eight children and daughter of Rachelle Van Wesepoel and Albert Dervaes. She was a honor graduate of the University of Tampa where she was an AAU track champion. Prior to World War II she was the first woman aviator to solo in the south under the Civil Air Patrol program.
In August of 1945 she married James Walter Whitehead. Among her numerous interests she was an avid gardener and was a co-founder of the Reeves Center for the research and exhibition of the decorative arts at Washington and Lee University. She was a recipient of the Lynchburg Citation from the Lynchburg Chapter of the Washington and Lee Alumni Association.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, two sons James Walter Whitehead Jr and Paul Dervaes Whitehead, two grandchildren James Walter Whitehead III and Carson Key Whitehead, and two great grandchildren Claire Dervaes Whitehead and Graham Horn Whitehead.
A family graveside service is planned in Tampa.
She was born in Tampa, FL, the youngest of eight children and daughter of Rachelle Van Wesepoel and Albert Dervaes. She was a honor graduate of the University of Tampa where she was an AAU track champion. Prior to World War II she was the first woman aviator to solo in the south under the Civil Air Patrol program.
In August of 1945 she married James Walter Whitehead. Among her numerous interests she was an avid gardener and was a co-founder of the Reeves Center for the research and exhibition of the decorative arts at Washington and Lee University. She was a recipient of the Lynchburg Citation from the Lynchburg Chapter of the Washington and Lee Alumni Association.
She is survived by her husband of 65 years, two sons James Walter Whitehead Jr and Paul Dervaes Whitehead, two grandchildren James Walter Whitehead III and Carson Key Whitehead, and two great grandchildren Claire Dervaes Whitehead and Graham Horn Whitehead.
A family graveside service is planned in Tampa.
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