White’s Estate-Plan Gift Creates Scholarship to Honor Her Mother

A great love and a great life make it possible for Barbara White to leave a legacy and honor her mother at MSU Texas where she and her mother earned their degrees. Barbara is leaving her estate to the University through her will to create the Erma Barton Scholarship.

The Erma Barton Scholarship is established as a tribute to her mother, a longtime resident, educator, and civic leader in Holliday, Texas. Barbara credits her mother for making her education possible. Mrs. Barton graduated from MSU Texas in 1949, just 27 years after the University opened, then named Hardin College. Barbara (McDonald) followed her as a 1966 graduate from the University, named Midwestern University at the time.

In 1968 Barbara had no idea that when she decided to take herself out for her birthday that she would meet a man on temporary duty at Sheppard Air Force Base with whom she would marry and build a life. Robert White courted Barbara primarily through letters and phone calls while she was a teacher and he was an officer in the U.S. Air Force.

“I always recognized his Maine accent. I told him that he was the first damn Yankee I ever met. He was precious,” Barbara said laughing. Robert passed away in 2020 shortly before their 50th wedding anniversary. During their years together, Robert often bought Barbara jewelry. She donated her jewelry to MSU Texas to begin the scholarship and is leaving her home and the remainder of her estate through her will.