"Aunt Marion, I realized today that I did not sign the guest book at the memorial service. Uncle Lawrence was a lucky man to have found you. He obviously had a deep love for you and your girls, and for all your family. Thank you for loving him, caring for him, and making him a part of such a wonderful family. As a kid I loved and idolized my Uncle Lawrence. You know that he gave me my first cowboy boots right after we moved to Oklahoma, and he let me drive his Jaguar during a visit to Oklahoma when I was about 10 (I almost hit a mailbox). He was genuinely interested in all his nieces and nephews, and made it a priority to spend time with us during his visits. In between visits, I explored the world vicariously through his letters, post cards, and gifts from exotic places. Now he is exploring a far more exotic place, and I’m sure he will have plenty of gifts and stories for us all some day when we meet with him again. May God bless and comfort you. Richard"
In loving memory of
Lawrence Anthony White
White, Lawrence Anthony Major USAF, retired, 76, died December 27, 2009. He was born in Camden, SC on March 17, 1933 to Thomas Britton White Sr and Winonah McCoy White. The youngest of four brothers, he grew up on the family farm, graduated from Bishopville High School, SC and earned his degree from Clemson University. Larry was a U.S. Air Force pilot for 20 years. He could fly anything and flew many types of aircraft including tankers, C130s, and fighter jets earning, among other honors, the Distinguished Flying Cross for service as a fighter pilot in Vietnam. He retired to Phoenix in 1976 and joined his brother-in-law John Wikle, in business. He enjoyed volunteering at John C. Lincoln Hospital and was a faithful auxiliary member for many years. His love for family and friends was unconditional. He leaves behind his wife of 36 years Marian Wikle White, daughters Marjorie Carnahan (Darrell) and three grandchildren of Phoenix and Laurie Bergren (Dr. John) and two grandchildren of Petersburg, Alaska. Larry loved and was very proud of all five grandchildren: Clara, Maggie, DJ, Caddie and Ellie. He also leaves his oldest brother Thomas Britton White, Jr. (Isabel) and sisters-in-law Salome White of Camden and Ann White of Weatherford, OK and numerous nephews and nieces. Two brothers preceded him in death, Averil McCoy White of Camden and Harold White of Weatherford. Interment will be at the National Cemetery, corner of Cave Creek and Pinnacle Peak Rd at 9:00 am, Saturday, January 2, 2010. Memorial service will also be on Saturday at 1:00 pm at Hansen Mortuary, 8314 N. 7th St., Phoenix, AZ.
Tributes
"Dear Aunt Marian, Margie, Laurie, and families, Travis and I are continuing to pray for all of you as you grieve the loss of your husband, father, father-in-law, and granddaddy. We pray for God’s peace and for the comfort of many happy memories. We wish that we could have come to share in the celebration of Uncle Lawrence’s life, but we were so glad that Rich, Tommy, and Andy were able to come. Rich sent a really nice e-mail about the experience of being able to be there, and I am sure that he’ll share more about it when he visits us later this month on a business trip layover. I wiah that all of our boys could have known him as we did when we were children. He always loved kids and was so great with them. We always hoped to come to Phoenix to visit you all, but for so long (over 21 years), Travis just had 2 Sundays and 10 weekdays off per year. We never got out to visit his Uncle and cousins in Indianapolis either. We love you all and always will. I hope that we will see you again at some point. You’d get a kick out of our boys. I ’d love to meet your sons in law and your grandkids. Love and Prayers to all of you. We love you all and Uncle Lawrence, too. God bless you, Cindy and Travis P.S. I don’t know if you or Laurie or Margie are on facebook, but several family members are. That has been a good way for me to keep in touch. My page is Cindy White Boyd. Travis has a page, too; but it’s easier to find him from my friends list because there are so many Travis Boyds. I have several photo albums on my facebook page and even a few short videos. I also have links to some of Travis’ published choral anthems where the demos can be heard."
"dear cousin, suzanne and i will be at the 1 0’clock service. i remember all the good times at the old homestead. also good times in phoenix at your two family homes. larry was a faithful husband and grandfather. love to you and all your family"