Gilbert Louis White, Jr.

Gilbert Louis White, born in New Orleans on December 31, 1929, passed away on November 21, 2024, at the age of 94, holding the hands of his son and daughter-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert Louis White, Sr. and Marceline Duplantis White, his sister, Felicie Smith (Fred), and his beloved wife, Louise Faust White.

He is survived by his only son, Randy White, daughter-in-law, Robin White, granddaughter Robyn Guillen (Juan), granddaughter Rebecca White (Ricky), and great-grandchildren Paisley White, Olivia Guillen, Jude Turpin, Kamrynn Turpin, and niece Patrice Smith Godfrey (Frank).

Gilbert served his country as a Korean War veteran and a member of the Army of the United States from March of 1951 until April of 1954.

He spent years working at D. H. Holmes in the accounting department where he would meet the love of his life, Louise. They would marry and settle into their first home on Mazant Street in the 9th Ward. Gilbert eventually left D. H. Holmes and began working for Whitney Bank, where he worked for 41 years before retiring. It was there that his love for coin collecting began.

A devout Catholic, he spent much of his time as a retiree handmaking rosaries for U.S. military members overseas, or to just carry with him wherever he went. He never met a stranger and his family would often lightheartedly laugh when, even meeting someone just in a grocery store aisle, the inevitable question of "Are you Catholic?" would come up. Sometimes yes and sometimes no, either way they were leaving with a rosary.

Having grown up in the French Quarter and working in his uncle’s grocery store on Royal Street, he loved Mardi Gras and was always ready to run from one parade to the next.

In the early 90s Gilbert and Louise moved to Chalmette and eventually Arabi. Following Hurricane Katrina, the family relocated to Mandeville and following the death of Louise, Gilbert moved in with his son and daughter-in-law, Robin, in Ponchatoula until he relocated to Ponchatoula Community Care Center for an extended stay in 2023.

The family would like to give special thanks to the wonderful staff and residents at Ponchatoula Community Care Center and North Oaks Medical Center.

Of all the loves he had, the love he had for his son cannot be overstated. To have a best friend for 64 years, to live with that friend, to hunt and fish, cook, go on errands and just enjoy nature together -- these were the days he cherished most. To know him was to love him and thank God they had so many years to do just that. This time, his grandchildren can concede, he loved them more than they loved him. His family looks forward to finding pennies from heaven -- the perfect reminder that this coin loving man is still so much a part of their every day.

A memorial mass for Gilbert will be held Thursday, December 5, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 600 N. Oak St., Hammond, LA 70401. Following the memorial mass will be an inurnment at 1:30 PM at St. Roch Cemetery, 1725 St. Roch Ave., New Orleans, Louisiana.