"Jo was such a wonderful, happy person. She was my little jazzerbuddie all the years I went to Oak Hill Jazzercise. She was always up to any new adventure, whether going Ice skating for the first time, or asking my friend to give her a ride in his sports car. (She told him to drive really fast!). She loved her family, her friends, and she loved life. She will be dearly missed. "
In loving memory of
Robbye Jo White
September 11, 1929 - April 18, 2021
WHITE, Robbye Jo (Tisdale) 91, of Austin, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 18. Robbye Jo Tisdale was born on September 11, 1929 in Little Rock, Arkansas. She was the only child of her parents, Lela Robinson Tisdale Peavy, and Joe Tisdale, who sadly passed away when she was 2 years old.
In 1949, she married Lee Wayne White, a young Air Force pilot from Sonora, Texas, who went on to have an illustrious career as a fighter pilot and flight instructor. Jo was a proud military wife who traveled with her husband throughout the world and throughout his career. While they were in Saudi Arabia, Jo was among a group of Americans whose homes were overrun by rioters in 1967. She hid behind the refrigerator as the mob ransacked their home.
Jo earned her Bachelor degree in Recreational Administration and Masters degree in Public Administration from Southwest Texas State University, never getting less than an "A" in any class. Jo dedicated her career to helping teenagers overcome challenges as a social worker. She finished her professional career working as Deputy Director of "Texans' War on Drugs".
Family was important to Jo and every year she looked forward to spending Thanksgiving with her extended family in Athens, Texas.
In her retirement years, Jo was an active participant in Jazzercise in Oak Hill until the age of 90. She was very proud of her attendance record.
Jo was married to her devoted husband, Lee Wayne White, for 70 wonderful years. She is survived by her daughter, Kathy White and Kathy's long time friend Larry Allen, as well as her son Lee White, Jr and his wife, Sandra White. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Lee, and their daughter Lee Ann White. Jo was a beloved grandmother to her late-grandson, Branon Martin, and granddaughter, Alexandra White.
The family would like to thank her good and loyal friends Sandi Causey and Nicole Edward, her physician of 40 years, Dr. Allen Sonstein, her hospice nurse, Kristal, and her caregivers, Carolyn, Verna, and Georgina.
Robbye Jo White will be laid to rest with her husband at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 18th. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Daedalians Scholarship Fund at https://daedalians.org.
Tributes
"I will never forget Jo?s beautiful smile when I used to teach classes at Oak Hill Jazzercise. She was a lovely lady, inside and out. I know she wouldn?t miss a beat, and surely has resumed dancing in heaven for eternity! Prayers of peace and healing for Jo?s family and friends."