Obituary for Earl White

Earl Edward White, 83, passed away at his home west of Ponca City, Saturday evening, on September 28, 2013. He had been in the care of Hospice of North Central Oklahoma for the past two months. The funeral will be held at 10 am, Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at First Nazarene Church of Ponca City with Roy Edwards officiating. Burial of the cremains will occur at a later date in Newkirk cemetery with a private family ceremony. Trout Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma at 1904 N. Union St. Suite103, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601.

Earl Edward White was born November 23, 1029 in Ponca City a son of Edward Napoleon “Ed” White and Lola May (Davis) White. He attended Ponca City schools and the old Finley School west of Ponca City.

Earl was raised during the “Great Depression” and always remembered the years 1937 and 1938 as the hardest. His father died during that time leaving a widow and seven children under the ages of ten years. Everyone in the family had to work hard to make ends meet and Earl had to quit school in the ninth grade because his wages were needed at home. For a time he worked on the farm of an Uncle J.F. Davis at Waukomis, Oklahoma and attended the Pioneer school there. Upon returning to Ponca City he did farm work for several farmers south of the city, six days a week and also milked cows at the Kelly dairy south of town before learning the carpentry trade.

Earl’s early years affected him all of his life and he always tried to help anyone in need; either financially or with his own labor. He was raised in a time where everyone pulled together and he opened his home more than once to anyone who needed a place to stay or a meal… often for months at a time.

In 1951 he was inducted into the Army and served at Whittier, Alaska and Newport News, Va. among other places. After an honorable discharge he returned to Ponca City and worked as a carpenter and roofer for Wright Construction Co. He later began his own sheetrock and roofing business and was well known in this area for his workmanship. He operated the business for over forty years until retirement and was employed by many Ponca City homebuilders.

He married Ruth Mae Watson July 20, 1956 at Tonkawa and they made their home at Ponca City with the exception of a short time at Arkansas City, Kansas where he was employed at the Meadowgold Creamery. Before his health failed he enjoyed hobbies of gardening and raising livestock on his property west of town and was proud to share produce, milk, and fresh eggs with family and friends. He was a longtime member of the Nazarene Church in Ponca City.

His survivors include his wife, Ruth White of the home; Art and Jolette Speir who were longtime friends and caregivers; two daughters, Shelly and husband Carl Martin, and Lori and husband Steve Russell, all of Ponca City; one son, David White of Pearl City, Hawaii; four grandsons and two great grandsons and a brothers, Norris White of Ponca City.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Shannon White, in 1959; three sisters, Lucille Connelly, Arlie Hister, and Delta Greenhagen; and two brothers, George White and Charles White.

The family will be at the Martin home, 3422 Meadow Lane in Ponca City.