Helen Dow Whiting, 85, of Sun Valley, Idaho, died peacefully on Oct. 16, 2009, while in the loving care of her devoted family, in Ketchum, Idaho. Helen was born in Midland, Mich., on Aug. 13, 1924, the oldest child of Martha (Pratt) and Willard Dow. She attended the Carpenter Street School, the Dow Private School, graduated from the Kingswood School in Birmingham, Mich., and earned a B.A. degree in chemistry from Sarah Lawrence College in 1945. She was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Northwood University in 1972.
She met her husband, Macauley, while she was a student at Kingswood, and they were married on July 6, 1945. Their life together was full of rich experiences, including the raising of a family of six children, being grandparents of eight and great-grandparents to one, and traveling to 94 countries as well as all 50 states.
As an author of three books, "Yes, We Can Cook" (1978), "Souvenirs of Tuscany" (1990) and "Discovering China" (1999), Helen's books were informed by her life experiences as a wife, mother and traveler. She sought to create beauty in all aspects of her life, whether in her home in Midland, where all her children were raised, or in Sun Valley, where she and Mac lived for more than 30 years. She maintained an interest in many civic organizations, including hospitals, schools, land trusts and arts organizations, which she and Mac supported through their family foundation, the Macauley and Helen Dow Whiting Foundation. She also served as a trustee of the Herbert H. and Grace A. Dow Foundation in Midland.
She is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, Macauley; her six children, Susan Scholl of Taos, N.M., Martha FioRito of Windsor, Calif., Helen Whiting of Sun Valley, Mary Whiting of Blue Hill, Maine, Henry Whiting II of Bliss, Idaho, Macauley Whiting Jr., of Winter Park, Fla.; eight grandchildren, Macauley Whiting III of Charlotte, N.C., Correll Whiting of Winter Park, Fla., Cameron and Chessye Collette of Sun Valley, Castine and Noah Dow of Blue Hill, Maine, Brandon FioRito of San Diego, Calif., Meghan FioRito of Windsor, Calif.; one great-grandchild, Nevaeh Collette of Sun Valley; and many other loving family members and friends.
She was predeceased by her parents, and by her brother, Herbert Henry Dow II.
Funeral services for Helen will be held in Midland, Mich., at St. John's Episcopal Church, 405 N. Saginaw Rd. at St. Andrews Drive, on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m. The Rev. Robert Skirving will officiate, with private family burial rites in Midland Cemetery. The family will be receiving friends at the Ware Smith Woolever Funeral Home, 1200 W. Wheeler St. in Midland on Monday, Oct. 26, from 4-6 p.m. Helen requested that those planning an expression of sympathy provide gifts of flowers. If you are unable to visit with the family in person, you may share your condolences through www.waresmithwoolever.com.
