Vernon Ray White, 89, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on February 27, 2019. Vernon was born February 10, 1930 in El Dorado, AR to James Marion White and Sally Lou Ham White. He lived in El Dorado until 1937 then moved to Wright, Arkansas. He attended Plum Bayou School.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1948 and was eventually stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, CO. While stationed in Colorado Springs, he met the love of his life, Ethel Louise McFarlin. They married July 16, 1950. The same year he was deployed for action in Korea. He was wounded in 1950 and was later awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received as a result of enemy action. During his service, he was commended for his service to the Camp Hale Officer’s Club. He was honorably discharged in 1952.
After his service in the Army, he and Ethel began a family in Colorado Springs. They moved to England, AR in 1966. Vernon worked in food retail, even owning his own grocery store. He was also employed by the U.S. Postal Service until he retired in the 1990’s.
Vernon was a bee keeper and avid gardener, his favorite crops being tomatoes, corn, turnip greens, purple hull peas and watermelon. He also had a passion for blue grass music and played with his wife and many close friends all over the state of Arkansas.
Vernon was a faithful servant of the Lord and was an active member in Plum Bayou Baptist Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Edith Bruce, Eva Krisell, and Marie Wood and grandson, William Alex White. He is survived by his wife, Ethel; children, Carolyn White of Cabot, Janice (Danny) Edwards of England, Errol (Karen) White of North Little Rock, Laura White of Plano, TX, and Lloyd White of Plano, TX; grandchildren Chris (Norma) Edwards, Andy (Amy) Edwards, Taylor White, Katherine and Zoe White; and great-grandchildren Owen and Aure Edwards and Bennett Edwards, and one great-grandchild on the way, Connor Edwards.
Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, March 2 at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills in North Little Rock, AR. Visitation will precede the service at 2 p.m. Memorials may be made to Plum Bayou Baptist Church or Covenant House, P.O. Box 96708, Washington, DC, 20090. Please share your memories of Vernon with his family at www.griffinleggettresthills.com
