Clyde’s Corner: Celebrating 100 years with Stockbridge’s Mary ‘Dorene’ White

by Clyde Whitaker

What a great honor and privilege it was for me to sit down with Mary “Dorene” White at her home in Stockbridge to discuss her upcoming 100th birthday celebration on Nov. 11, 2022.

On Oct. 7, when I arrived, I found Dorene watching a replay of the Michigan State versus Ohio State football game from 2012. With her were her daughter Barbara Van Dyke and caregiver Patty Rydzewski.

After talking with Dorene for just a few short minutes, it became obvious to me I would not be able to write a short story about her life. She did everything!

“Dorene,” as we all know her, was born in Stockbridge, Michigan, on Nov. 11, 1922, in a small house on the east side of town, a house rented by her parents Caspar and Ethel Glenn.

She attended school in Stockbridge, graduating in 1940. Her class size numbered 28 (22 girls and 6 boys), and she was third scholastically in the class. Dorene said she enjoyed sports in school, playing tennis and basketball, but admitted she was not a great athlete.

She played snare drum in the band before becoming drum major for a few years. Dorene was also quite accomplished at playing the accordion.

While attending Stockbridge Schools, she met her future husband, Curtis White, who was teaching there at the time. They were married Oct. 10, 1942, at her parents’ home on Dutton Road.

Dorene spent about one year studying to become a teacher, attending Michigan State Normal College in Ypsilanti, Michigan. After a while, she changed her mind about teaching and returned to work locally in Stockbridge. She also attended a Lansing secretarial school for about one year. Curtis and Dorene were parents to four children, Larry Jay, Richard Glenn, Sally Anne and Barbara Sue.

Curtis and Dorene built their house in 1953. Dorene drew to scale a plan outline for the home on a piece of cardboard, and they gave it to Cliff Osborne to build the house from that drawing! Dorene still lives in the home she and Curtis built, 69 years later!

To say that Dorene was involved in her community would be an understatement, as she was active in the American Legionettes, the Stockbridge Garden Club, the Stockbridge Arts Council, and the Mason Art Guild. She has also volunteered at the Stockbridge Area Emergency Services Authority, better known as SAESA. Dorene loves to sing and has been a member of the Presbyterian Church choir for over 80 years. In addition, she served in many different capacities in the church.

This centenarian also LOVED to travel, taking numerous trips across the U.S. and abroad with her husband, and continuing to travel after his death in 1989. Collecting “flower frogs” was a huge interest for Dorene, and her collection now stands at around 1,000. About 100 pieces in her collection were published in a “Flower Frogs” book written by Bonnie Bull, published in 2001. Note: For those not in the know, flower frogs sit at the bottom of vases to hold flower stems in place.

Taking a Watercolor Painting class in 1997—at the tender age of 75—sparked another interest for Dorene. That community education class led to a creative passion she continued to pursue until about 2018. What a treat it is to visit her home “art gallery” (see accompanying photos), where I was astounded by the combination of simplicity and beauty evident in her collection of paintings.

I asked Dorene if she had any regrets in her life. After a very short pause, she said she regretted never getting to the Mardi Gras.

She said Her father, Caspar Glenn, loved Stockbridge and its people, and it was he who had the greatest impact on her life. A favorite saying of his was ” you get out of something what you put into it.” Wow, very impactful words to live by for sure.

I was especially interested to know what it took to reach 100 years old, so I asked Dorene for her secret. She shared that it’s important to have “a good attitude…and gratitude…and to always have something to look forward to.” She also mentioned the importance of eating ice cream and chocolate every day!  Wow, a lot of us could certainly benefit from following Dorene’s example.

In closing, I asked Dorene how she would like to be remembered. She was quick to respond with a list: her involvement with her church, being honest and outgoing, having a positive outlook on life, being a big supporter of any Stockbridge programs, helping in any way she could—like with starting the Outreach Program—being grateful to live in Stockbridge, and for the love she has had for her family.

What a wonderful accomplishment to reach 100 years old, and what a phenomenal person she is! All of us are better people for knowing Dorene.

Thanks, Mary “Dorene” White! You have certainly made a difference in this world. Happy birthday!

Clyde Whitaker is a 1973 Stockbridge graduate. He and his wife, Mary, raised four children in Stockbridge, and they still reside in the Stockbridge area.

Photos provided by Dorene White unless otherwise indicated.

Mary “Dorene” White sits in her gallery among her many beautiful watercolor paintings. Photo credit Clyde Whitaker

In high school, Dorene enjoyed her time as a drum major.

Dorene excelled at playing the accordion.

Curtis and Dorene on their wedding day, Oct. 10, 1942.

In 1953, using pencil on cardboard, Dorene drew plans for their family home and handed the drawing to Cliff Osborn, who turned her vision into the house Dorene still lives in today. Photo credit Clyde Whitaker

Ethel and Caspar Glenn, Dorene’s parents, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1965.

Dorene and Curtis with their children: Sally, Larry, Barbara and Richard.

Dorene was grand marshal of the Stockbridge Homecoming Parade in the 1990s.

Dorene (right) and her daughter Barbara enjoy a quiet moment together. Photo credit Clyde Whitaker

Dorene was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the Stockbridge Area Chamber of Commerce in 1999. Photo credit Clyde Whitaker

Dorene’s watercolor depiction of the Stockbridge High School she attended. Photo credit Clyde Whitaker

From special memories to nature—her watercolors grace the walls of Dorene’s home in Stockbridge. Photo credit Clyde Whitaker