Veteran Honored On 105th Birthday In Chatham Township

CHATHAM, NJ — Jean White turned 104 years old in Chatham Township on Wednesday.

To help put that in perspective, she was born in 1918, the same year that World War I ended and the year that the Spanish Flu killed tens of millions of people around the world.

The United States had not yet implemented nationwide prohibition; women and people of color did not have the right to vote; and the internet itself was still more than 60 years away.

White, who currently resides in Juniper Village at Chatham, a senior living community, has seen it all. On Wednesday, Aug. 9, the Chatham Township community and officials gathered to commemorate the occasion and honor her life.

"Today, we celebrate the remarkable 105-year journey of Jean White. Born amidst World War I and the Spanish flu pandemic, Jean's life has been a testament to resilience, dedication, and service," the township said.

White, a Chatham resident since 1947, graduated with honors from Duke University in 1935 and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Honors Society. The attack on Pearl Harbor cut short her graduate studies at the University of Michigan, and during World War II, she enlisted in the United States Navy.

During her time, White served in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) program, where she monitored overseas cable communications to prevent secret information from falling into enemy hands.

While serving in the Navy, White met Frederick Lupton White, also known as Lup, a Navy lieutenant, whom she married after the war.

During her time in the Chathams, White spent time volunteering as a storyteller at the Chathams Library and at Ogden Memorial Presbyterian Church, where she worshiped on Sundays, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and helped organize the church library.

She was hospitalized twice in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, and her story has inspired pending legislation titled the "New Jersey Pandemic Bill of Rights for the Welfare of the People," which is currently before the State General Assembly.

"Her legacy is woven into the fabric of our community. We are also reminded of the strength she showcased during her battle with COVID-19," the township said.

Juniper Village at Chatham is located in Chatham Township, at 500 Southern Blvd.