Sarah Reese-White

Sarah Reese-White, age 84, of Spring, Texas, and formerly of the Tuscarawas Valley died peacefully, Tuesday, November 11, 2025.

Salli was born on January 23, 1941, in Dover, Ohio, she was a daughter of the late John W. and Margaret “Peggy” Pugh.

After graduating New Philadelphia High School, Salli obtained a Bachelor of early childhood education from Transylvania University at Kentucky. She later earned a Masters at Xavier University in Facilitation and Counseling and served as a member of the Tri Delta Education Sorority. Professionally, Salli enjoyed careers in education having worked at Garaway and New Philadelphia Schools for many years prior to turning her focus to home life and raising her daughter. She later spent more than a decade working at Macy’s at Belden Village Mall and later Old Navy and during that same time period, took up Massage Therapy.

At the age of 10, Salli took up playing the cello and spent 27 seasons as a cellist with the Tuscarawas Philharmonic and also played in the pit orchestra for Little Theatre of Tuscarawas County throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In addition to her love of music, Salli was an avid golfer, a football fan, a Notre Dame supporter, and traveler. Her faith was very important to her life, and while living in the area was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church at Dover.

Salli is survived by her daughter, Beth (Alan) Burgess of Spring, Texas; her granddaughters, Bailey Burgess and Anna Burgess; a former sister-in-law, Beverly Pugh of Kingwood, Texas, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, Salli was preceded in death by her first husband, Lindwood Reese; second husband, William White, and siblings Arthur Pugh, Richard Pugh, and Margaret Hatten.

The family will greet guests on Friday, November 28, 2025, from 2-3 PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia where Reverend Dr. Eric Pugh will lead a memorial service celebrating Salli’s life beginning at 3 PM. A dessert reception will follow in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home. Private inurnment will take place in the St. Elizabeth Catholic Cemetery at Roswell.