Robert James White

On October 31, 2022, beloved brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Robert James White died peacefully at home.  He was surrounded by love, compassion, and his family as left this world behind to be in the arms of Jesus.

Known as Bob to all those who loved him, he was born on the 7th of February, 1934 to James "Jim" White and Elsie Snodgrass White in Bering County, Michigan.  He was the middle child, with two sisters, Delsia and Jo Ellen, who preceded him in death.

Bob grew up with a passion for music that was encouraged by his mother.  Her dream of him becoming a classical musician was dashed when young Bob was introduced to jazz and his desire to learn all that he could about music was truly sparked.  He learned with great enthusiasm to play the trumpet, french horn, and saxophone.  Artistically gifted beyond just music, he was also a drawer and painter.

He joined the Air Force as an airplane mechanic and while visiting a friend in North Carolina, he met his first wife and the mother of his four children, Marie Norton White.  They had a daughter which they named Rose Marie, (he would later proudly say that he named her after a musical of the same name), followed soon after by three boys, Robert Leland White, Henry Taylor White, and Jack Garner White.  As his children grew into adulthood, Bob began a new passion of traveling cross country mulitple times on his motorcycle, working in different locations as a mechanic and as a musician.  He explored many parts of the country, playing music in different locations and meeting a cast of characters that would inhabit the stories he loved to tell his grandkids about this part of his life.

Eventually, he met and married a Josie Albritton in Encinitas, California where he lived until moving back to North Carolina after her death.  She matched his wit and put up with his silly jokes, and together they traveled around the country.

Bob was a fantastic grandfather to Kelly, Amanda, Christina, Christopher, Nicole, Michelle, Taylor, Heather, Timmy, Natalie, Allyssa, Lauren, Cherise, Gloria, Alejandra, Fernando, Henry, Nikki, Jeffery and Jacob.  This was the role that Bob was most delighted in.  He enjoyed playing, signing songs, telling silly jokes, and listening to his grandkids.  He pushed them to pursue their passions and to see the humor and beauty in everything.  He also showed them the importance of very silly walks (the Poppy Hop walk).  Bob would do almost anything to bring a smile to a child's face.  Even with his great grandchildren, he would go out of his way to say something silly to get them to stop and laugh.

Bob will be remembered as independent, strong-willed, caring, and loving. He always cherished sharing a laugh with his family.  He was compassionate, artistic, headstrong, and fiercely loyal. He is very loved, and will be deeply missed.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Rose Marie White-Hearn, his wife, Josie White, his sisters Delsia and Jo Ellen, and his parents James and Elsie White.

Robert James "Bob" White leaves behind his three living children, Robert and his wife Donna White of Raleigh, Henry and wife Angie White of Oxford, and Jack and wife Patricia White of Angier.  He leaves behind twenty grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren.

A funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 3rd at 1:00 pm at New Elam Christian Church in New Hill, NC.  Burial will follow the service in the church cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 1:00 pm prior to the service at the church.