August 9, 1950 – August 28, 2024, father, grandfather, road construction savant, patriotic American, Joe White was truly a good man. Born in Washington DC to Edward M. and Margaret E. White.
Joe attended school in the Prince William County Public Schools, eventually attending Stonewall Jackson High School. After a few odd jobs, Joe decided to enlist in the US Army from September 1967 to January 1971. Joe’s military service included a tour in Vietnam along with stateside duty stations at Ft. Leornard Wood, MO and Ft. Riley, KS.
Joe completed Army Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Ft. Leornard Wood and was designated as a combat engineer specializing as Carpentry and Masonry Specialist. He was deployed to Pleiku, Vietnam and took part in Tet 69 Counter Offensive, and VN Summer – Fall 1969; during his time deployed he built key infrastructure facilities and participated in building, maintaining, defending, and operating transportation routes from Pleiku to key areas in Qui Hhon and AN Khe. Joe’s combat operations came in defense of these key supply routes, as he received Vietnam Service Medal w/2 Overseas Bars, Vietnam Campaign Medal w/60 VC, National Defense Service Medal, Expert Badge (M-14 & M-16).
Joe completed his service and was honorably discharged from the Army at Fort Riley Kansas in 1971. Joe was part of a large family in Manassas Park, VA, he was 1 of 8 siblings. Joe’s brothers were Mike, Robert (Skip), Steve, Bill, and Rick, sisters Chris, and Sue. Even with a large family waiting his return Joe remained in Kansas; meeting Brenda Torrey in Salina, KS and marring her in December 1970 where they parented three boys, Ron White (Sae Kyong) of Oklahoma City, Tim White (Jamie) of Salina, and James White (Suzanne Smith) of Salina.
Joe was able to establish his lifetime career shortly after leaving the Army. He began his career with Brown and Brown and stayed in the road business his entire adult life. The companies changed, but Joe stayed a consistent employee until his retirement in 2016. Joe was with the company so long, he worked up the ladder, and eventually back down as employees he once hired kept him employed as he made his way to retirement. His job was his passion; he routinely would share his projects with his sons and anyone who wanted to listen. He received several awards for his projects throughout the years and received several certifications in his trade.
Throughout the years he was known as the rode paver savant for his advanced paver operating skills. Joe’s other passions were guns, camping, fishing and boating, but his biggest passion was his family.
Joe fathered three boys who had several grandkids; Ron and Sae White – Jessica Conrad (Colton), Andrew White (Samantha); Tim White – Taylor White (Kylie), Colton White (Desiree) and MJ White. Colton and Desiree recently made Joe a great-grandfather with the birth of their son, Branson. Joe also has many nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Mike and Skip.
He will be greatly missed.
*In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Tunnel to Towers in Memory of Joseph White and please let us know you donate by addressing the form to Ron White, 13201 SE 94th Street, OKC, OK 73165 / email: [email protected]
Website: https://t2t.org/donate
Form: In Memory of Online Form (t2t.org)
Services will be held at Ryan Mortuary in Salina, KS (137 N. 8th Salina, KS) with a viewing starting on Friday September 6, at 0930 and service starting at 1030. Joe’s final resting place will be at Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery at Fort Riley/Manhattan receiving full Military Honors.