Arthur White's Obituary
Arthur Earl White, 92 of Memphis, Tennessee passed away peacefully Saturday May 28, 2011 at The Village Of Germantown Carriage House. He was the second son of four boys born to Benjamin Carrol and Florence May White on April 5, 1919 in Marionville, Missouri. Arthur often recalled with pleasure those long ago days in Shirley, Arkansas when his father was the Station Agent/telegrapher for the Missouri & North Arkansas railroad. As the telegraph line would stretch the family would move to the next little town down the track. They would travel by boxcar with a player piano on one end of the boxcar, a Jersey cow at the other, and the family with belongings in the middle. What a sight that must have been! Art started school in Doniphan, Nebraska when he was 5. Then he went to McKinley and Logan Missouri, Harrison Arkansas, Heber springs (twice), Searcy Arkansas (twice), and Shirley Arkansas in 1930-1931: then to Cotton Plant Arkansas for ninth through 12th grade. Arthur would share that he had lived in 28 different houses in his lifetime. Arthur studied two years in Monticello A & M College and a year at Memphis State University. He was employed by the Rock Island Railroad in Memphis, Tennessee for 45 years starting out as a mechanics helper. Then he was promoted to Switchman and finally became Yard Master. Arthur met Berniece, his bride of 70 years while attending Arkansas A & M at Monticello. They were married May 26, 1940. He retired to Fairfield Bay Arkansas in 1986. In 2008 they moved back to enjoy their senior days at the Village of Germantown in Germantown Tennessee. He was a member of the Evergreen Presbyterian Church of Memphis, Tennessee. In Fairfield Bay Arkansas he attended the Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church. He was a session member and sang in the choir at both churches. He also sang in The Village Of Germantown Choir. Art’s love of music could always find him humming or whistling a tune. His work with the Fairfield Bay Rotary Club was noteworthy. His devotion to The Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts was admirable. He was proceeded in death by his parents, his dear wife Berniece Baker White, a daughter, Phyllis Ann White Henry, and a son Timothy B. White. He is survived by his three brothers and their wives, James Ellis White, the late Helen White, of Fairfield Bay, Arkansas, Benjamin Carrol White, Dorothy Jane White, and their son Robert Carrol White of Memphis, Tennessee and Victor Paul White, Elizabeth Ann White of Cotton Plant Arkansas, two sons and their wives. James E. White, Eileen Smith White of Memphis , Richard A. White, Wendy McClary White of Atlanta Georgia; five grandchildren, Jennifer White Castillo and husband Fred Castillo of Redmond, Washington, Christopher White and wife Summer Shockley White of Monroe, Washington, Ross White and wife Krystle Williams White of Webster N.Y. , Klie White of Macon, Georgia, and Crawford White of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; three great grandchildren Ryan White, William Henry, and newborn Katy Makayla White; numerous kin folks and a multitude of friends. He has best been described as the hardest working man you would ever meet. He was active in volunteer work wherever he lived. By doing this he was honoring his grandmother. She always told him that the most important thing in life is good health and good neighbors. Always with that infamous grin, humorous comments and a big heart, he truly succeeded in life being a good neighbor. The family will receive friends Friday, June 3 from 5:30 until 7:30 pm and the service Saturday, June 4 at 11:30 am at Memorial Park Funeral Home.
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