Elementary school teacher, church choir member

Nancy Mae Whitham, longtime elementary school teacher, died of cancer on April 11, 2018. She was 81. 

Nancy Blaisdell Whitham, the second of four daughters born to Helen Ann Vojacek and Charles Oswald Blaisdell, was born in Oak Park, Illinois on October 24, 1936. In 1950, the family moved to Indiana, where Ms. Whitham attended Indiana University and graduated magna cum laude in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She was also president of her ZTA Sorority and a member of Mortar Board.

In 1958, the Blaisdells moved to Pasadena. She joined her church’s choir where she met her husband, Charles Whitham. The couple was married December 20, 1959 in Pomona. Nancy and Chuck had three children, Katherine, Thomas and James. They divorced in 1994, and later in her life she spent many happy years with Jim Graham.

She was an elementary school teacher for 45 years and had many hobbies, which included traveling, playing bridge, gardening and singing in the choir. 

Ms. Whitham is survived by her special friend and all time love, Jim Graham; her children, Katherine (Kent) Evje, Thomas (Shannon) Whitham and James Whitham; three grandchildren, Timothy (Taylar) Evje, Jennifer Evje and Samuel (Ashley) Evje; and two great-grandchildren, Carter Evje and Teagan Evje. She is also survived by three sisters, Marilyn (Tom) Chilton, Joan (Richard) Berry and Carol Good, many nieces and nephews, and numerous friends.

A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 25 at Claremont Presbyterian Church, 1111 N. Mountain Ave. in Claremont. A private graveside service will follow the funeral at Rose Hills in Whi