Walter “Whitey” White, 82, of Jefferson, died Aug. 28 at Maine General Hospital in Augusta after a brief illness.
Whitey was born Feb. 25, 1924 in Willimantic, the son of Walter and Gladys Patterson White, and attended Waldoboro schools.
A veteran of the U.S. Army, he served in the Fifth Army, 1st Armored Division, 1125th Armored Field Artillery Battalion during the Rome, Arno, North Appenines and Po Valley Campaigns of WWII. He was a Cryptographic Technician and a Purple Heart recipient.
He was the founder in 1952, and co-owner of White and Bradstreet in Augusta, specializing in large truck parts. As part of the business, he also operated a vehicle auction company and towing operation. After selling the business in 1995 to his son Raymond, he still went to work daily at the shop until July, when his health started to fail.
Whitey was always willing to do what he could for everyone and you knew you could always count on him to be there when you needed him. He was known to have a quick wit and a good sense of humor.
A dedicated mason, he was a member of the Bethlehem Lodge # 35, AF&/AM in Augusta, and a past High Priest of Cushnoc # 43, Royal Arch Chapter in Augusta, and was one of the founding leaders of the Capital City Chapter, Order of DeMolay, in Augusta during the mid 1960’s. While active in DeMolay, he received the Cross of Honor and the Honorary Legion of Honor.
Whitey is a member of the Unitarian Universalist Community Church in Augusta. He enjoyed hunting and Nascar racing.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Arlene Nash White; two sons, Raymond and wife Marion, and Roger and wife Tina; two grandchildren, Matthew and Marissa, all of Jefferson.
Visiting hours 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thurs., Aug. 31 at Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 949 Main St., Waldoboro, with a Masonic Service at 7:30 p.m.
Funeral service 1 p.m., Fri., Sept. 1 at the funeral home. Interment will be at Hall Cemetery in Jefferson.
Should friends desire, remembrances can be made to Hall Cemetery Corporation, c/o Janet Jaworski, 4 Trundy Rd., Cape Elizabeth, ME 04107, or to Jefferson Veteran’s Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 901, Jefferson, ME 04348.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hall Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 949 Main St., Waldoboro.
