Gary Max White

Gary Max White, 80, of Earlysville, Virginia died September 27, 2015. He was born April 1, 1935, in Fieldale, Virginia, the son of late Richard Lee and Gladys Belton White. Max graduated from Fieldale High School in 1952, and earned a B. S. in Pharmacy at the Medical School of Virginia as well as passing the Virginia Board of pharmacy examination for licensure in 1957. He practiced pharmacy the next 42 years. He joined the Marine Corps in 1958 and served until 1961. He was commissioned 2nd Lt. upon completion of the Marine Corps Officer Candidate School in 1958 and officer’s basic training in 1959. He served as artillery officer in the 10th marines, Fleet Marine Force 1959-1961, forward observer, platoon commander, Executive Officer, Battalion S-2 officer, and completed the Special Weapons Courier course, Amphibious Intelligence School at Little Creek, Virginia, and Fire Direction Officer’s School. He attained Captain’s rank. From childhood Max was dedicated to Boy Scouts of America. He entered as a Cub Scout and finished as an Eagle Scout. As an adult, he led scout troups for 25 years in three different troops. Furthering his scouting leadership, he completed the Wood Badge Leadership Training course in 1982 where he received the totem Bluefox, his moniker for the remainder of his life. From 1984-1990 he was Assistant Course Director for Wood Badge training. Awards he received were the Scouter’s Key, Order of the Arrow, Pioneer Award, and Silver Beaver Award. The scout oath formed the bedrock of his thinking and actions from childhood on. Continuing his lifelong walk of connecting with others in a meaningful way, he became a Stephen Minister at Plymouth UCC in Des Moines, Iowa in the mid 1990’s. Stephen Ministry made an increasingly deeper impression on him as he developed new understandings about some of the emotional difficulties inherent to the human condition. The experiences of spending time with and listening in a nonjudgmental way to others who were lonely or in need of emotional support altered his approach to and interactions with others the remainder of his life. Multiple times in his life Max was able to find Home and the safety and unquestioned acceptance inherent in the feeling of ‘homeness.’ These were vital to his existence, growth, and peace of mind. He was fortunate to have experienced home in multiple locations and environments during his life, the first of which was Fieldale, VA, the place of his birth and growth to manhood; next was the Marine Corps, followed by some years in Martinsville, VA with his first wife Nancy Gaddis White and their 4 children. From there he moved to in Clintwood, VA where he remained for 25 years establishing a different family, a pharmaceutical practice geared toward helping coal miners and their families, and community. Des Moines, IA and the strong ties of friendship, community, and church he shared there became his next genuine home. His last home was a private wooded place he named Spirits that Whisper here in Earlysville, VA. After an absence of even a day, he always said, “It’s good to be home.” as we pulled into the driveway. Max is predeceased by his brother, Richard Lee White Jr. and by his oldest son Jeffery Kendall White. Max is survived by his wife of 41 years, Bonita Crabtree White; daughter and son-in-law, Allison and William Knapp in Aylett, Virginia; daughter, Tracey White Wilbourne of Glen Allen, Virginia; daughter and son-in-law, Lesley and Carson Todd of Suffolk, Virginia; son and daughter-in-law, Daniel Grey Silcox and Michelle Mullins of Richmond, VA; and son and daughter-in-law Max Peyton and Tamera White of Standardsville, VA. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Cameron, Christopher, Tyler, Logan, Jovi and Jackson. A Celebratory Memorial Service will be held at Teague Funeral Home in Charlottesville, VA on Saturday, October 10, 2015 at 2:00 pm. A reception will follow at the same location. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to a charitable organization of your choosing.