Melvin Edward White

Melvin Edward White passed away January 15, 2012, at Lewis Memorial Christian Village in Springfield, Illinois. He was born December 19, 1920, to Thomas E. & Elizabeth C. (Frailey) White in Deering, Missouri. He was married to Gertrude Strange of Stamps, AR, February 6, 1943. Melvin was a veteran of the US Army in WWII, serving in the Aleutian Theater of the Pacific, as the Company First Sergeant, 3062 Ordinance Support Company, Attu Island, Alaska. He retired after 42 years with the Cotton Belt Railroad. He initially was a telegrapher and later their agent in East Prairie, MO, and Jonesboro, AR. Later he was promoted to be the Regional Agent in Pine Bluff, AR where he retired in 1982. He was an ordained deacon in the Baptist Church. For many years he was a member of the First Baptist Church, Jonesboro, a member of the Elks Club, Kiwanis Club and an active wood carver as well as a devoted family man who greatly enjoyed traveling. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Gertrude (Strange) of Jonesboro and one brother Harold White of Memphis, Tennessee. He is survived by two sons, Douglas (wife Virginia) of Covington, Kentucky and Stephen (wife Edna) of Chatham, Illinois; Four granddaughters, Stephanie Lindey (husband Edward), Samantha McGee (husband Chris), Heather White and Katherine White; One great granddaughter, Lilly Lindey and one great grandson, Owen McGee; One sister Helen Wells of Columbia, Missouri; as well as many nephews and nieces. Visitation will be held January 18th from 6pm to 8pm at Roller Farmers Union Funeral Home of Jonesboro with services at January 19th at 2pm by Roller Farmers Union. Burial to follow at Jonesboro Memorial Park. Rev. Bruce Tippit will officiate. In place of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, AR, the American Diabetics Association or the Wounded Warrior Project.