Sept. 21, 1934 - May 20, 2010MISHAWAKA - Ella D. Whitt, 75, of Mishawaka, passed away during the early morning hours on Thursday, May 20, 2010, after a long illness. She was born in Savannah, TN, on September 21, 1934, to Horace and Julia (Mitchell) Franks. Shortly after moving to Mishawaka in 1953, Ella met Robert E. Whitt, a fellow Tennessean. They were married at First United Methodist Church in Mishawaka on December 18, 1954. Together they raised five children. Robert preceded her in death on June 27, 2007. She was also preceded in death by her parents, and by two brothers, Eugene Franks and Leon Franks. Mrs. Whitt is survived by two daughters, Julia (Tony) Armstrong of Bloomington and Lisa Whitt of Mishawaka; three sons, Randy (Barbara) Whitt of Granger, Ronnie (Christine) Whitt of South Bend and Robert Dean (Susan) Whitt of Bloomington. She has four granddaughters, Francine Critchlow of Mishawaka, Andrea Whitt of Granger, Abbey Armstrong of Bloomington and Rebecca (Ryan) Kater of South Bend; and three grandsons, Aidan Armstrong of Bloomington, Anthony "AJ" Armstrong of Bloomington and Joseph Blair of South Bend; and a great-grandson, Rece Kater of South Bend. She is also survived by two sisters, Mary (Reuben) Tune of Mishawaka and Reba (Frank) Reynolds of Savannah, TN. Ella was employed at Uniroyal for almost 37 years and she enjoyed yard work, gardening and spending time with family and friends. Friends may spend time with the family on Monday, May 24, 2010, in the Bubb Funeral Chapel from 11 a.m. until time of service. A Celebration of Life Service for Ella will be held in the funeral home at 1 p.m., with Pastor Jeff Little officiating. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens. The family would like to express special thanks to the staff of the Center For Hospice and Palliative Care and to the staff of Tanglewood Trace where Ella had resided until being moved home recently, and also to caregivers, Janet, Missouri and Sharita of Home Care Assistance for the excellent love and care they extended to Ella during the last few months of her life. The family is asking, in lieu of flowers, that contributions be made in Ella's memory to CurePSP, Executive Plaza III, 11350 McCormick Road, Suite 906, Hunt Valley, MD 21031. This organization is dedicated to finding a cure for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, the rare disease that took Ella's independence over the past few years, and ultimately her life. Memorial condolences may be sent to Bubbfuneralchapel.com.