Eda's Obit

Eda Lilla Beitman Whitehead Obituary

Eda Lilla Beitman Whitehead died of natural causes Sunday January 3, 2016. She was in her home surrounded by family and good friends. Her beloved companion of 22 years, Floyd Lundschen was by her side. It was a peaceful ending to an amazing life. She had traveled the world, climbed the Matterhorn in Switzerland, took Cordon Bleu classes, became an architect after birthing five children, built two homes that still stand in Santa Fe NM, and South Fork, CO, raced cars in the 50s, and brought a feisty elegance to anything she put her mind to.

She was preceded in death by her eldest daughter Sherry Baird Bando. Eda Whitehead is survived by her sister Mary Jane Winter(Fort Worth, Tx), her children: Son Greg Whitehead, his wife Linda, & their son Harrison(Fort Worth, Tx), Son Chaplain Arthur Whitehead & his wife Linda(Denver, Co), Daughter Priscilla Whitehead Cox(Reno, Tx), Daughter Jan Easter and her husband Chuck(Reno, Tx), Granddaughter Jennifer Tossing & her husband Dan & their daughters Emma & Liv(Dallas Tx), Granddaughter Eda Obey and her husband Scott(Long Beach, Ca) who will all miss her sweet smile.

Eda was born Sept 17, 1922 in New York, NY to Arthur and Bess Baird Beitman. She spent a large part of her childhood in central California, and would often tell her grandchildren stories of the one room schoolhouse she attended during those years. She was the proud granddaughter of Ninnie L. Baird, who was the founder of Mrs. Baird’s Bakery, one of the largest bakeries in the state of Texas.

Eda was a woman raised to be a leader. She was a director on the board of Mrs. Baird’s Bakery. As well as a director on the board of Elk Creek Ranch, the 1,000 acre working cattle ranch in South Fork, CO where one of the houses she designed is built. She was a member of the Fort Worth Junior League. She loved to dance. She was an avid golfer, adored playing bridge and did both as a member of River Crest Country Club. And she raised five children.

She married Brownloe Whitehead in 1941, and was with him 49 years until his death in 1990. They traveled the world together with their children in tow. Trips to Switzerland or Africa were interspersed with car trips to national forests. Somewhere in a dark closet there is ans 8mm film of her son Arthur running away from bear, while his brother Greg is filming, while laughing hysterically from the safety of the car. There are home movies of Christmas mornings, with tons of tinsel and homemade eggnog, and endless reels of fishing trips and other adventures.

Brownloe and Eda started racing cars together in the 50s. Eda loved the cars, but bristled at the remarks about incompetent women drivers. As a response she formed her own women’s racing club. She would always laugh when she remembered the call she received from her mother Bess after being on the front page of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for winning a race in Lake Worth, Tx that past weekend. Bess was enraged that a mother of three would take such risks. Eda told her it’s not a risk if you’re good.

She didn’t believe in luck, she believed in education, skill, and a good attitude. She happily paid for her children and grandchildren to go to colleges and trade schools. She loved going to Baylor University in Waco and being a sister in the Delta Gamma sorority. After having her children, she went to Texas Christian University nearby her house to take architecture courses, because as she used to say: she had an eye for it. After her husband, Brownloe’s death, she completely redesigned her Fort Worth house. She loved natural light and fresh flowers. Her house was warm, charming and elegant. Just like the architect who built it.

Services for Eda will be held Saturday Jan 9 10:30am at St Andrews Episcopal(917 Lamar St Fort Worth, 76102 (817) 332-3191).

Her pallbearers will be: Jay Sandelin, John W. Winter IV, H. Bruce Baird, Jay Lundschen, Blake Lundschen, Dr. Marshall Bradshaw, and Chuck Easter. Her honorary pallbearers will be: Donald D. Reynolds, Scott Baird, Allen Baird, Carroll Baird, Arthur L. Baird, Bryon Ross Baird, and C.B. Baird.

Her favorite flowers were gladiolas, glades, and daisies. Her favorite colors were pink and coral. For donations in her honor, the family asks to please donate to the Ninnie L. Baird Foundation or Trinity Valley Endowment Fund.