William White

The last of four children, he was raised with enough confidence to achieve his ambitions of becoming a Naval jet pilot and a mechanical engineer. While pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at Tennessee Tech, he met his future wife, Karen Sue Hunt, in a calculus class. After dating for three years, they married on March 15, 1968. After graduation in June, Bob got a job as an automotive engineer with Ford Motor Company, who knew he would need to fulfill his obligation to the military. He left Ford after three months to go to Pensacola, FL for Navy Officer’s Candidate School (OCS) and initial flight training. During this period, Bob and Karen added a daughter, DeLisa Michelle, to the family. While completing his flight training for jets, the family moved to Meridien, MS, then to Kingsville, TX. Once he obtained his wings, he was assigned to a squadron based in Lemoore, CA, but deployed for combat from the USS Oriskany aircraft carrier. Bob flew A-7s, a single-seat attack bomber, while serving in Vietnam.

After discharge, the family raised DeLisa in Michigan, where Bob continued his career with Ford. In his 30 years at Ford, his engineering skills were utilized in many areas, including powertrain, emissions certification and heavy-duty truck diesel engine development. After his retirement from Ford, he extended his career with 2 years at Toyota and 6 years at DeGusssa, a German emissions supplier before retiring in earnest to the Belfair Community in Bluffton, SC in 2004.

In 2024, he and Karen decided to move back to their home state of Tennessee, finding a lovely lake house in Dandridge. While in the process of moving, doctors discovered that the prostate cancer he valiantly fought since 2021, had mutated and moved to his lungs. As they unpacked and settled, Bob’s symptoms progressed to where the planned treatment could not be started. In February of 2025, he was – at his request – moved to hospice.

Bob enjoyed baseball in his younger days, where he was a pitcher for UT his freshman year before injuring his elbow, and prior to a burst appendix necessitating a move to Tennessee Tech. He also took up golf and won many “long drives” contests. He and Karen loved traveling and were able to see all 50 states, as well as over 80 countries, prior to when the Covid Pandemic first interrupted their world travels. The prostate cancer was found in early 2021.

Bob will always be remembered for his precise engineering skills, deep values, warmth, sense of humor, and his ability to have and inspire fun.

Bob is preceded in death by his parents, brothers David “Timer” and Edwin “Pete” White, sister-in-law Rebecca White, sister Mary Alice Rugaber, and brothers-in-law, John Rugaber and William Donald “Don” Wright. He is survived by his wife, Karen, his daughter DeLisa, son-in-law Ed Hancox, two grandchildren: Alexander and Archer Hancox, his sisters-in-law Anna Lee White and Marilyn Wright, beloved nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews along with countless friends around the world, who will remember him for his good nature, humor, companionship and faith.

No services are planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home will be assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com