Florence Whitehouse Obituary

Florence Linn Whitehouse ("Linn"), age 92, passed away peacefully on August 26, surrounded by her loving family in Aiken, SC, her home since 2007. Linn was born in Philadelphia to Howard Linn Edsall, a writer, inventor, and nationally ranked tennis player, and Florence Small Edsall, a professional poetess and one of the first women to graduate from The University of Pennsylvania. Her parents were true intellectuals deeply interested in literature, philosophy, and history. Family dinners always involved spirited discussions of ideas, which doubtless contributed to Linn being an outstanding and inquisitive student. Like her mother, Linn attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she majored in psychology. It was there she met the love of her life, Robert James Whitehouse, who also graduated from Penn and subsequently attended Wharton Business School. Linn and Bob were married at The Little Church Around the Corner in NYC, known for serving the theater community, of which Linn was a member. She had a beautiful soprano singing voice, performed in many musical productions, and animated gatherings around the piano, singing show tunes and laughing with family and friends. Her love of the Arts included poetry; following in her mother's literary footsteps, she, too, published many poems. Always inspired by the natural world, whether she was following a family of sparrows nesting on her porch or growing wildflower gardens, she had an endless appreciation for nature and a great tenderness and love for animals. Her creative imagination and curiosity were infectious. She taught her children to never impose limits on themselves. Gifted with an unfailingly keen eye for the absurd, which enabled her to find comedy and spark her musical laughter, even in dark and challenging moments. Her daring style, playful glamour, effortless elegance, iconoclasm, open-mindedness, and free thinking garnered admiration wherever she went. Like her father, she had an inventive mind with steely determination. A lifelong athlete, Linn was inspired to run her first marathon in Montreal shortly after her 50th birthday. She founded a fitness consulting business, which enabled her to inspire others for many years. Linn thoroughly enjoyed riding her bike through the lanes of Aiken well into her ninth decade. An avid swimmer, she could be found doing laps and making friends at the pool as recently as last year. She continued to delight in walks with her daughters nearly daily until just weeks ago. Linn was predeceased by her husband of 55 years, the aforementioned Robert James Whitehouse, and her son Phillip Edsall Whitehouse. She is survived by her two daughters, Elizabeth Whitehouse Fisher (Jeffrey) and Janet Linn Whitehouse; her son George Andrew Whitehouse; and twin grandchildren, Orson Keyser Whitehouse and Theodora Elizabeth Whitehouse. Donations may be made to Peaceful Valley Donkey Rescue (donkeyrescue.org). The Historic George Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 211 Park Ave., SW, Aiken, SC 29801 (803.649.6234), has charge of arrangements. Expressions of sympathy for the family may be left by visiting www.georgefuneralhomes.com