Dear Grandpa White

After battling cancer for so many years, Grandpa White passed away on Saturday ,May 10, 2008 (5:30EST) . I had the pleasure of knowing him. He was a great man. I saw the laid back, funny grandpa side. I recall one of the nicest compliments he ever gave me when they lived in FL and Arden was about 4 months old. He said something like, "you've done a good job with my great-grandson...

As I write this, Newel pointed out that Arden is the only grandson, so far to carry the White family name. HB, Nate, Jeff, and Sam need to get on the ball and have boys. We don't want the legacy of this name to not be passed down.

Here is the obituary he wrote himself before he passed away:
Harold Bancroft White Jr. was born in Boston Massachusetts on February 28, 1919, and passed away on May 10th 2008,after a ten year long battle with prostate cancer. At the request of the deceased, he will be cremated and there will be no services. Later, at the convenience of the family, there will be a reunion at the family home in Lemont.

Born and brought up in New England, the son of a Congregational minister, he graduated from Monson Academy and later received undergraduate and graduate degrees from Massachusetts State University. He entered the service of the United States Army in 1941, served for four years, and was later discharged from the Air Force as a Sgt. He married his childhood sweetheart, Thyrza (Stevie) Barton of South Amherst, MA in 1942. He and Thyrza have four sons; Harold III, Biochemist at the University of Delaware, Hubert, High School science teacher for over 34 years in State College– now retired and residing in Lemont Pa. Hebron, businessman in Salt Lake City, UT, and Daniel, school track coach and business man Grandview, WA.

During his tenure at Penn State, Hal started as a recreational specialist in College of Agriculture in 1948 perhaps notable for his preparing Grange groups for the Aaronsburg Story Pageant. In 1951 he moved to the College of Physical Education to teach in the recreation curriculum. He became an Associate Professor under the late John Lawther, teaching individual sports, dance, for both men and women’s programs.

He enjoyed winter and aquatic sports. He became a sailboarder after he retired. When he was 50 he learned to ride a unicycle after two weeks of tumbles.He was an ardent athlete, enjoying about every activity he could manage. A better than average handball player and only a fair tennis player – he enjoyed playing with close friends, (particularly, the late Elmer Gross) over many years. He had a pilot’s license and served as operations officer in the Civil Air Patrol.

Hal might be remembered as fun loving and as an eager competitor. He had a broad sense of humor and a ready laugh. He enjoyed working with students and for many years took student and faculty groups into Algonquin Provincial Park Canada on canoe trips. For years he would bike to “Rec Hall” from his home in Lemont until the traffic became a problem.He retired in 1979 when he and Stevie traveled by motor home all over the United States. In 1984 they purchased a home in Bradenton Florida where they resided until 2005. They briefly stayed with their son Hebron in Salt Lake City, Utah and returned to State College in 2007 to live in an apartment in Nittany Gardens.

As he now writes this brief obit, he wishes to express his undying love for his wife, Stevie, She was his heart and soul and wishes that during his working years he could have spent more time with her and their family. The working years were tough on family life especially with a single income and a time consuming job. However, the “Icing on the Cake” was his retirement when he could spend every day traveling and enjoying the remaining years of life with his beloved wife.If there could be an inscription for Hal on a tombstone somewhere – it would be “I had a wonderful trip”. His admonition “To those of you I leave behind – enjoy life while you can - the end creeps up faster than you realize”.