Our beloved father, Joseph (“Joe”) Patrick White, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, in Bellaire. He was born on May 1, 1939, in Binghamton, New York, to Frank and Margaret (“Peg”) White.
Joe attended St. Patrick’s Academy from K through 12th grade in Binghamton. Joe moved to Houston in 1958 to attend the University of St. Thomas at the request of his Aunt and Uncle, Florence and Gene Huff, who lived in Houston. While at the University of St. Thomas, he met his bride-to-be, Mary Anna. After graduating the University of St. Thomas in 1962, he entered the Coast Guard for active duty through April 1964, and continued in the reserves through 1967, and inactive reserves until 1969. Joe and Mary Anna were married in February 1966 in Wharton, Texas; Mary Anna’s hometown.
Joe started his career at Dun & Bradstreet upon leaving active duty. In 1970, he transitioned to McQuillan Survey which led to roles at Brown & Root and finally the City of Houston in 1984 where he worked until his retirement in 2004. Joe played basketball and baseball growing up and continued to play basketball in men’s leagues in the Bellaire area into his mid-30’s. Having grown up in New York, Joe was both a New York Yankees and Brooklyn Dodgers fan. Once he moved to Houston, he became an avid fan of all the Houston teams – Astros, Rockets and Oilers/Texans. He attended the very first Astros game at Buff’s stadium in 1962 and retained the ticket stub from that game. Joe was very active with his three sons and was always available for some catch, hoops, and all of his son’s activities.
Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 38 years, Mary Anna; parents, Frank and Peg White; sister Miriam White Duncan and Aunt and Uncle Florence and Gene Huff.
Joe is survived by his sons’, Patrick and wife Terri, Peter and wife Katie, and Philip and wife Nicole; grandchildren, Connor, Carly, Luke, Eliott and Kellen; great granddaughter Ellie and numerous nieces and nephews and other loving relatives.
The family will receive family and friends from 4:00pm to 6:00pm Wednesday, August 12, 2026, followed by a Catholic rosary service starting at 6:00pm at Earthman Funeral Home, 4525 Bissonnet St., Bellaire, TX 77401. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00am Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 6921 Chetwood Dr., Houston, TX 77081. Rite of Committal will take place at 11:00am on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Evergreen Memorial Park in Wharton, TX.
