Diana Claire White

Diana Claire White passed peacefully to her eternal home on November 18, 2025, at the age of 80, in Midland, TX.

Diana Claire Bartelson was born October 26, 1945, in Paxton, Illinois, to Clemens and Thelma Bartelson who lived in Elliot, a small town in central Illinois.

Diana was baptized and confirmed in the Elliott Lutheran Church. Diana and her siblings were known throughout their small town because they were paper carriers for two different newspapers. Diana was a favorite babysitter for the families of infants and young children, which she continued to do throughout her life. Diana attended Elliott Grade School and graduated class of 1963 from Gibson City Community High School. After graduating from high school, Diana attended an infant nurse program at The Cradle, a home for newborns.

Diana married Howard White, who was in the Navy and stationed at Great Lakes Naval Station, on November 9, 1966. They moved from Illinois to California to Texas where Howard would retire from the Navy and would raise their four children there.

Diana started working at Odessa Women’s and Children’s Hospital in 1976 (aka, Odessa Regional Hospital), was honored with employee of the year once and loved taking care of babies and children until she retired in August 2020. Diana loved baking for her coworkers, school activities for her kids, and even entering a few local baking contests. She loved the Lord and loved going to church every Sunday and lunch with the ladies after.

Diana loved being a mom and grandma. Diana loved seeing and spending time with her grandkids whenever she could. She made sure to be present at all her kid’s functions, dance recitals, baseball games, soccer games, softball games and of course football games. She was a huge MOJO fan, not long after moving to Odessa, Tx, she would have season tickets to the Permian football games, before there was a Ratliff Stadium. Come rain or shine you could catch her at the football stadium on Friday nights. She would eventually get season tickets to OHS home games and would also attend the UTPB Falcons home games and do a little pregame tailgating with anyone she could whether she knew them or not. She also loved going on road trips and spending quality time with her siblings and their families.

Diana is preceded in death by her husband Howard White, son David White, and parents Clemens and Thelma Bartelson.

Diana is survived by her daughter Michele James of Midland, daughter Nicole Steele of Midland, son Jimmy White of New Braunfels, TX, her grandchildren Kennadi James, Zachary James, Alex James, Kyah Samario (Isaiah), Charlee Steele, Cash Steele; her great grandchild Trenton Pace. Also, her siblings Myrna Meves, Julie Koepke, Alan & Judy Bartelson along with many nieces, nephews and so many friends. Diana was loved by many for her loving, giving and caring heart, sense of humor, Lemon Bars, Texas Sheet Cake and so much more.

The family is grateful for the care she received at Ashton Medical Lodge.

In memory of moms love for Mojo football, if you are attending the memorial service, we would like everyone to wear black and white, (if it happens to have Permian Panthers/Mojo on it, even better)!