Mildred R. White

Mildred Geraldine (Rutkowski) White passed away peacefully at Aarondale in Annandale, VA, during the early morning of April 27, 2013. She had her four sons by her side. Millie was born on April 28, 1926 in Chicago, IL to Stephen and Violet (Kwarczinski) Rutkowski. After her father died in 1930, her mother later married Michael Pruszynski. She grew up in the Bucktown area of Chicago with her brother Leonard Rutkowski and sister Beatrice (Rutkowski) Gredin. She was baptized, confirmed, and attended grade school through the nearby St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church and later graduated from St. Stanislaus Kostka High School in 1943.

Millie was married to recently departed Colonel Thomas B. White, Jr. (USMC), for nearly 60 years. She was proud to be a loving Marine spouse and enjoyed the many friendships formed within the Marine Corps beginning with those of the 6th Basic Class and throughout their time in the Marine Corps. Her family grew in the early 1950s, as she moved to Oklahoma, Texas, California, Virginia and North Carolina. Millie ran the household while Bo was deployed to Korea, Okinawa, and Vietnam. Her family eventually settled down in Annandale in 1965.

Millie treasured her lasting friendships on Pickett Court, within her Broyhill Crest neighborhood and Marine Corps bridge groups and within the Fairfax County Park Authority organization. She remained a devout Catholic attending St. Michael’s in Annandale.. She was a beauty with a delightful warm smile, kind eyes, a great sense of humor, and infectious enthusiasm. All who met her immediately felt a great attachment and friendship. She was generous with her time to others and enjoyed the little pleasures caring for her dogs, feeding the squirrels, and sitting on the back porch talking with family and friends or just listening to the rain. She created memorable Thanksgiving family dinners, and her meatloaf, and potato salad were always a favorite. Most of all, Millie cherished her family.

She leaves her four sons, three daughters-in-law, and four granddaughters to cherish her memories: Thomas B. White, III, Debra E. (Napper) White, and Ashleigh White (Nashua, NH); Steven B. White, Ann P. (Quinn) White, and Jennifer White (Stafford, VA); David B. White, Luisa S. (Sanchez) White, Dana and Danielle White (Richmond, VA); and Philip B. White (Arlington, VA).

Millie leaves her niece Patricia O’Leary and husband Jerry (Elk Grove Village, IL), their two daughters, Erin (O’Leary) King and husband David (Streamwood, IL), and Jamie (O’Leary) Thomas (Elk Grove Village, IL), and their four grandchildren. Also, nephew James Rust and wife Patti (Des Plaines, IL), and their son and daughters, Brian Rust and wife Elisabetta (Des Plaines, IL), Lauren Rust (Des Plaines, IL), and Julie (Rust) Bohnenstiehl and husband Mike (Arlington Heights, IL), and their four grandchildren.

She leaves her brother-in-law, Gordon B. White and wife Marlis (Alameda, CA), their sons and daughters, Douglas B. White and wife Robin (Santa Rosa, CA), Gregory B. White and wife Lisa (San Carlos, CA), Diane Kimberley White (El Cerrito, CA), and Colleen D. White (San Carlos, CA), and their four grandchildren. Also, Millie leaves her sister-in-law Melba A. White, wife of her recently deceased brother-in law James B. White Sr. (Tonkawa, OK), and their sons and daughters, Laverne Biel and husband Kent (Spokane, WA), James Bradley White, Jr. (Tonkawa, OK), Brenda Denise (White) Hamlin (Corona, CA), Robert Brian White and wife Jennifer (Tonkawa, OK), and their seven grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

Millie continues to be dearly loved by her family and friends and is now reunited with her husband and the rest of her family and many of her friends. She made a huge difference in so many lives.