Paul Gaston White Jr.

Paul was born in Birmingham, Alabama, and grew up there and in Laurel, Mississippi. After high school, Paul attended Auburn University on an NROTC scholarship and graduated in 1977 with a degree in Industrial Engineering. He was then commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy. In March 1978 he started flight school in Pensacola. It was there that he met Joan Marie Johnson, and they married in July 1979. After transitioning to sea service, Paul served on several ships and was able to explore ports in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. He enjoyed the opportunity to see the world but decided that settling down with his wife was the better choice! He left the Navy in 1982, and he and Joan made their home in Pensacola, Joan’s hometown.

Paul worked in the engineering department of Gulf Power Company for 13 years and then opened his own photography business, specializing in wedding and portrait photography. He captured many people’s special moments with his eye for detail and ability to make his subjects feel comfortable. After closing the business, Paul worked for several engineering companies. Since 2006, he was the engineer of record for Absolute Aluminum, reviewing and approving designs for aluminum structures. Most recently, he also reviewed designs for Hometown Contractors. Always seeking to learn and grow in his professions, Paul was a member of and past president of the Pensacola sections of the Instrument Society of America and the Professional Photographers of America. He also took courses in the MBA program at the University of West Florida.

Unlike most people, Paul relished the opportunity to speak to groups and did so through Toastmasters, Gulf Power, and church groups. He thoroughly enjoyed researching his topics and interacting with his audiences. But he especially enjoyed one-on-one conversations. Paul had a keen intellect and a wide range of interests and was always eager to learn new things. He loved hearing people’s stories and telling his own with wit and humor. His laughter was loud and infectious! He was well known for spinning tales that his listeners weren’t ever quite sure were true or completely made up!

Music was one of his main interests, having come from a musical family, and he sang in choirs his whole life. At Auburn, he was a member of the inaugural group of the Auburn Singers and was able to tour Romania with them, a trip that made a deep impression on him. After settling in Pensacola, he added his rich bass voice to various choirs including the Choral Society of Pensacola and the choirs at Warrington Presbyterian Church and Christ Episcopal Church. Music truly fed his soul.

Most of all, Paul was a man of deep Christian faith—it was the bedrock of his life. He was a student of the Bible and loved learning and teaching the truths he found there. Perhaps the way he most exhibited the spirit of Jesus was in his love and appreciation for others. He took the time and effort to encourage others, particularly during difficult times in their lives. To his wife he was a tower of strength and unfailing support. He was generous in helping those who had fallen on hard times, and he always made time to thank those who served him in some way. He went out of his way to notice, compliment, and thank everyone from waitresses to nurses. Through the partnership of Christ Church with Montclair Elementary, he was able to mentor two young at-risk boys, and he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with them and encouraging them to see the possibilities for their futures. Paul’s kindness also extended to the many animals—rabbits, dogs, and cats—that came into his and Joan’s lives over their 44 years of marriage. And on numerous occasions, he rescued strays and either returned them to their owners or found new homes for them. As so many people have commented since his passing, he was a good, kind, and gentle man who will be greatly missed.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, Paul Gaston White and Eva Clapp White. He is survived by his beloved wife, Joan Johnson White, and his three sisters: Denise Richardson (Guy), Jackson, Mississippi; Mary Whitehurst (A.D.), Panama City, Florida; and Julie White, Birmingham, Alabama. He is also survived by four nieces: Katie Moore (Nathan and daughter Charlotte), Athens, Georgia; Joy Richardson, Birmingham; Mae Lane (Sean), Birmingham; and Sarah Wolfe, Birmingham.

Memorial contributions may be made to either Christ Church (address below) or Waterfront Rescue Mission, 348 West Herman Street, Pensacola, Florida 32505.

Paul’s funeral service will be on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 10:00 am at Christ Church, 18 West Wright Street, Pensacola, Florida 32501. A reception in the parish hall will follow the service. The committal service at Barrancas National Cemetery will be on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 11:00 am. The funeral procession will form at 10:15 am at Oak Lawn Funeral Home, 619 North New Warrington Road, Pensacola, Florida 32506.

If you are unable to attend the funeral, it will be live-streamed on YouTube:

https://youtube.com/live/qFSTevbopAY

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.oaklawnfunerals.com for the White family.