Hatsuko M. White

August 14, 1932 ~ February 14, 2013

Mrs. Hatsuko Minei White, age 80, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family. Hatsuko was born on August 14, 1932 in Okinawa, Japan. She was the eldest of eight children who cared for her siblings during WWII fighting on the Okinawan Islands. She met her husband Vaughn White during his station in Okinawa in the late 1950’s. She moved with Vaughn and their three children to Bangor, ME in 1961, while pregnant with her fourth child. Hatsuko and Vaughn moved down the east coast for the Marine Corps before retiring in Charlotte, NC with eight children. Together as a family, they dedicated their lives to the Soka Gakkai International – USA as members propagating world peace through Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism. Hatsuko was awarded the SGI-USA Humanitarian Award in 2008 and was recognized as a SGI-USA Distinguished Pioneer in 2009. More importantly, she was loved and will be remembered for her compassionate mentoring, her caring heart, her beautiful smile, and as a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Hatsuko was preceded in death by her father, Seiko Minei, mother Yakabi Matsu, and husband Vaughn G. White.

She is survived by her daughters Junko Nelson, Susan Rourk, Nancy White, Jean White and Jo Vega; her sons Masao Minei, Allen White and Randall White; 15 grandchildren, Jason, Anna, Jeremy, Brian, LeiLani, Wyatt, Maggie, Melissa, Margaret, Willie, Miranda, Vaughn, Logan, Savannah, and Olivia; 13 great-grandchildren; and 4 sisters and 1 brother in Okinawa.

A funeral service will be held at 1 pm, Sunday, February 24, 2013 at McEwen Pineville Chapel 10500 Park Rd. Charlotte, NC.