In Kansas, there’s a story about a truly remarkable American: Lois White, a great-great-grandmother who defies age by singing, dancing, and playing pickleball twice a week.
Lois embodies the spirit of longevity, having filled her life with sports, play, love, and family—a legacy that deserves celebration from coast to coast.
Pickleball, similar to European padel but played indoors on a hard court with a hollow, slower-moving ball, is quickly becoming a favorite across the U.S., offering a fun way to stay active for people of all ages.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, Lois White hits the pickleball court at New Century Fieldhouse in Gardner, Kansas, where she keeps up with players in their 50s and 60s.
“I also play cards every week,” White shared with KCTV News 5. “I took up square dancing, and then I thought, ‘Why not learn the mandolin?’ So, I got some books and now I play and sing. I’m even part of the Pickers and Fiddlers.”
Pickleball is just the latest chapter in the vibrant life of Lois White.
Born before an airplane ever flew over Kansas, she married a soldier at 17 and raised six children.
“We always did what the kids wanted to do,” White said. “I’ve played basketball, football—whatever was on the table. My husband and I even coached a softball team with our daughters for years.”
When her husband passed away 30 years ago, the “stubborn” Lois White kept herself busy—a task made easier with six kids, 20 grandkids, 37 great-grandkids, and now four great-great-grandkids.
Many of her family members tell her to slow down, but she always responds, “I know one thing—you need to keep moving.”