Ada Whitehill, the daughter of Taylor and Maley (Collett) Barrett was born November 30, 1933 in Essie, Kentucky. She passed away May 17, 2013 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 79 years, 5 months and 17days.

Ada grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Southeast Kentucky with three brothers and three sisters. Growing up as a coal miners daughter was difficult. She met Eldon Duane Whitehill in 1953 and moved to Shenandoah, Iowa. They were united in marriage on August 9, 1953.

For the first couple of years they lived east of Shenandoah on Ferguson Road in a remodeled chicken house. Then they brought 240 acres Southeast of Shenandoah where they both lived out their lives.

Ada had many jobs over the years. In the 60's she worked as a fountain girl at Jay Drug and Woolworth, she was also a cook/waitress for the Shenandoah Country Club and Elks Club. In the 70's, she owned and operated Ada's Cafe. In the 80's and 90's she owned and operated over 30 apartments and she was also a nurses aide at Garden View Care Center. She was a member of the Summit United Methodist Church. She loved to cook, take long walks and collect rocks from different states when traveling.

Preceding Ada in death were her husband Eldon, brothers Joe and Harrison, sisters Elizabeth and Bernice, and grandson Michael. Those left to cherish her memory include sons Randall Whitehill of Kentucky, Rick Whitehill of Coin, Iowa, and Bryan Whitehill of Shenandoah, Iowa, nine grandchildren Traci, Joni, Ashley, Alexa, Andrew, Aaron, Jennifer, Dustin and Jessica.