Edna Pearl (While) (Lupton) Lacy
Page by Bob Leathers
Edna Pearl While (While Family Collection from Kim McCartney)
Life Story
1928 April 20: Gene Lacy was born in Portsmouth, Virginia.
1934 September 9: Milton Watson Lupton was born in Scranton, North Carolina.
1936 May 31: Edna Pearl While was born in Hanna, Wyoming to John "Jack" and Janet "Jessie" (Tennant) While.
1936: Steamboat, the bucking horse, first appeared on the Wyoming license plates.
1939: A new Union Pacific Coal Company Store was opened on the Lincoln Highway that ran through the center of Hanna. It contained all the necessities a mining family would need such as school supplies, gifts, tools, clothing and groceries. G. E. Bullock was the first manager.
1940: The Great Depression ended.
1940's: Edna had her pictures taken by a professional photographer who arrived in Hanna with a pony and a cowboy outfit.
Edna While (While Family Collection from Bob Leathers)
1942: Edna attended school at Hanna.
1942: The Union Pacific Coal Company's No. 4A Underground Mine in Hanna started production of coal. The No. 4 Mine in Hanna was abandoned when the 4A Mine started operations. Edna's dad, John While worked at the No. 4A Mine, but only on the surface.
1946: The Hanna Gymnasium burned down at Christmas time. The 1946 Hanna Basketball Team was forced to practice in the Finn Hall, which was located near the school, and play most of their home games in Rawlins. In spite of all the difficulties, the Hanna team placed third in the district tournament and fourth in the state tournament.
1948: The new Hanna School Gym was in full use by the school. The Hanna High School enrollment was 68 students.
1949: The Blizzard of 1949 was the worst storm in Wyoming history. The storm created nearly intolerable conditions in Hanna.
1950: A new, modern Hanna High School was built to meet the needs of the community.
1953 November 21: Edna While, age 17, married Milton Watson Lupton, age 19, in Rock Springs, Sweetwater County, Wyoming.
1954: Edna and Milton moved to Texas.
1954 February 28: The Union Pacific Coal Company closed all of their mining operations in Hanna.
1954 March: The firing of all the miners in Hanna created difficult times for the miners and their families. Many families became destitute with no job, no income and no place to go. With a large number of miners suddenly unemployed in Hanna, the lack of income to buy food became a critical issue, consequently the Federal Commodity Program was started in Hanna. The program assisted the needy unemployed Hanna miners and their families with food items until other employment could be found. In the beginning the program consisted of beans and potatoes, but later expanded to canned meats, flour, rice and other federal surplus food items as they became available. The program proved to be extremely beneficial and lasted for several years.
1955: The closing of the Hanna 4A Mine in 1954 would mark the first year in the Hanna Basin history there would be no coal production from an underground mine.
1955 October 13: Edna's father, John "Jack" While died on his way to the Rawlins hospital from Hanna. John was 58 years, 8 months and 18 days old at the time of his death. He died of complications from an earlier surgery. He was buried in the Hanna Cemetery in lot 440. The lot is located below the "bottom" or South road toward the west end of the cemetery.
1957 about: Edna and Milton moved to Virgina.
1980 May 21: Edna (While) and Milton Lupton divorced in Virginia.
1985 April 17: Edna's mother, Janet "Jessie" (Tennant) While died in Laramie. Jessie was 81 years old at the time of her death. She was residing in a nursing home in Laramie, Wyoming when she died. She was buried in the Hanna Cemetery next to her husband John "Jack" While.
1993: Edna was living in Chesapeake, Virginia.
1993 December 3: Edna While married Gene Lacy in Chesapeake, Virginia.
2006 September 19: Gene Lacy died in Postsmouth, Virginia.
2020 December 25: Edna (While) (Lupton) Lacy passed away in Chesapeake, Virginia and was buried in the Hanna, Wyoming cemetery.
Edna (Image fron Kim Shurter)
Lacy, Edna Pearl While
Cemetery: Hanna
Plot: Block 4 Lot 8
Born: May 31, 1936
Died: Dec. 25, 2020
Buried: July 24, 2021
Age: 84 y's, 6 m's, 14 d's
Note: Obituary: CHESAPEAKE- Edna Lacy, 84, passed away early Christmas morning. Edna had two great loves in life: her family and working with her customers at Towne Bank. Her devotion to both was deep and abiding. Edna is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Stilwill; two sons, Dan Lupton and Tim Lupton; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family would like to express profound appreciation to the staff at Commonwealth Memory Care in Great Bridge. Their commitment and compassion were and always will be beyond our ability to express. The family would also like to extend their sincere appreciation to Medi-Home Hospice for their kindness and compassion. There will be a small private celebration of Edna’s life in the spring. Thank you to everyone that ever helped us help her. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. (www.SturtevantFH.com)
Note: January 4, 2021: Edna was a very gracious and caring person who always brought out the best in everyone. I was fortunate enough to have worked with her learning how to make others feel like they were her best friend. She will be missed. My condolences to the family. (Ward Robinett)
Cemetery: Hanna
Plot: Block 4 Lot 8
Born: May 31, 1936
Died: Dec. 25, 2020
Buried: July 24, 2021
Age: 84 y's, 6 m's, 14 d's
Note: Obituary: CHESAPEAKE- Edna Lacy, 84, passed away early Christmas morning. Edna had two great loves in life: her family and working with her customers at Towne Bank. Her devotion to both was deep and abiding. Edna is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Stilwill; two sons, Dan Lupton and Tim Lupton; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. The family would like to express profound appreciation to the staff at Commonwealth Memory Care in Great Bridge. Their commitment and compassion were and always will be beyond our ability to express. The family would also like to extend their sincere appreciation to Medi-Home Hospice for their kindness and compassion. There will be a small private celebration of Edna’s life in the spring. Thank you to everyone that ever helped us help her. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. (www.SturtevantFH.com)
Note: January 4, 2021: Edna was a very gracious and caring person who always brought out the best in everyone. I was fortunate enough to have worked with her learning how to make others feel like they were her best friend. She will be missed. My condolences to the family. (Ward Robinett)
2021
(Image by Bob Leathers)
(Image by Bob Leathers. 2021)
(Image by Bob Leathers. 2022)
2023
Plot for Violet (While) and Gorden Roop, Joyce (While) and Jim McCartney, Edna (While) Lacy and Henry "Hank" While. (Image by Bob Leathers. 2023.)
2024
PLOT FOR VIOLET (WHILE) AND GORDEN ROOP, JOYCE (WHILE) AND JIM MCCARTNEY, EDNA (WHILE) LACY (IMAGE BY BOB LEATHERS. 2023) Cindy While Stilwill and Jill Robin added in June 2024 (Image by Bob Leathers)