Darlene Carolyn McBride, 55, of Oak Harbor, passed away, Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013.

Darlene was born in Norfolk, VA on October 3, 1957 to Ruth Gunter White and the late Henry Eldridge White Sr.

Following her mother’s remarriage after the passing of Henry Eldridge White Sr., Darlene was raised by the late Tootsie Smalls. Darlene moved from Norfolk, Va. to Houston, Texas with her mother Ruth and father Tootsie in 1971.

During her High School years, she played varsity volleyball, was a champion ping-pong player and led protests to bring about important school changes. She graduated from Houston’s Smiley High School in 1975. Shortly after graduation, she met and married Lawrence Wayne McBride and began traveling the world before settling in Oak Harbor in 1987.

Darlene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt and cousin. She was a caring friend and confidant to many and was a proud supporter of the ASPCA.

Proceeding her in death are: her father Henry Eldridge White Sr.; her dad Tootsie Smalls; her brother Larry White; her brother-in-law Ronald Hall; her uncle Turner Gunter; her aunt Virginia Gunter Mayberry; her father-in-law Stephen McBride and her mother-in-law VanBette McBride.

She is survived by her husband Lawrence McBride, daughter LaShuna McBride, son Lawrence McBride, granddaughters Eva Elizabeth Brazil and Brook Lee Morgan; brothers Henry White (Sheila), Dwight White (Cheryl), David White, Kerry Smalls, Dana Smalls (Sandra); sisters Terrie Hall, Cherry Rivers (Dywane), Zina Smalls (Deshay), Candace Patton; sister-in-law JoSandra Stafford; brother-in-law Anthony Patton; thirty nieces and nephews and a host of friends and associates.

A memorial service was held on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013 at Wallin Funeral Home in Oak Harbor. Burial will be held in Houston, Texas on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013. Friends and family are encouraged to sign the guest register at www.wallinfuneralhome.com.