Elizabeth Price

Burlington – Elizabeth Nichols Whitlow Reith Price, 98, passed away on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 at Twin Lakes Community surrounded by her family.  She was born on March 15, 1920 in Caswell County to the late Robert “Bob” Norwood Whitlow and Ruth Caroline “Carrie” Stephens Whitlow; and was married to the late James “Jim” Albert Reith and William “Bill” Price.

Elizabeth graduated from Bartlett Yancey High School in 1938.  Having to decide on a profession, and undoubtedly with the influence of her three older sisters, who all were Registered Nurses; she decided to be a nurse.  She left Leasburg and went to stay with her sister Ruth in Winchester, Massachusetts.  She enrolled in the Symmes Arlington Hospital School of Nursing in Arlington, MA and completed the prescribed course of study and training to be a Registered Nurse on September 9, 1943.  By this time, our country was embroiled in the conflicts of WWII.

Elizabeth joined the Army Nurse Corps in October 1944 and entered service at Ft. Devin, MA.  She went overseas in January 1945 to Livorno, Italy or Leghorn as it is referred to in English and served with the 81st Station Hospital of Peninsular Base Section, the main Army Service Force in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations.  She served in the Nurse Corps until November 20, 1945.

While still serving overseas, on August 2, 1945, Elizabeth married 1st Lt. James Albert Reith in the 64th General Hospital Chapel in Livorno, Italy.  “Jim”, as he was called, had been serving with the 517th Parachute Infantry Regiment Combat Team Company A.  After the war ended, they moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, Jim’s hometown.  After 42 years of marriage, Jim passed away on June 2, 1987.  While in Indianapolis, from 1950 to 1984, Elizabeth devoted 34 plus years to care for employees as an Industrial Nurse for RCA Corporation.  After Jim’s death, Elizabeth moved from Indiana back to Leasburg, NC, from there she moved to Orangeburg, South Carolina, where on April 5, 1989, she married William “Bill” Earl Price.  After almost 3 years of marriage, Bill passed away on January 3, 1992; and in 2002 Elizabeth moved back to Leasburg, NC.

Elizabeth was the oldest member of the VFW Post #7316 in Yanceyville; she enjoyed gardening and bird watching, and she attended Leasburg United Methodist Church.

She is survived by her brother, Stanley D. Whitlow, Sr. and wife, Sue and numerous nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her husbands; parents; sisters, Eudora Maxwell, Ruth Kelley, Jeannine Whitlow, Marion Abbott and Evelyn Greenfield; and brothers, Robert “Dick” Whitlow, Martin Whitlow, Ralph Whitlow, Carlton “Cot” Whitlow and John Whitlow.

The celebration service will be held at 2:00pm Friday, March 15, 2019 at Lowe Funeral Home Chapel by Rev. Ray Pearce.  The family will receive friends following the service.

The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the staff and caregivers at Always Best Care Senior Services, Burlington Manor/Brookdale Senior Living, The Arbor Staff and nurses at Twin Lakes, and the staff and nurses with Hospice of Alamance-Caswell, for all their compassion and loving care that was shown to Elizabeth during her illness.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Alamance-Caswell, 914 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington, NC 27215.