Thomas Henry White, Jr., Major, USMCR (Ret.), 89, of Denton, went to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, on Monday, July 25, 2016.
Tommy was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend. He modeled Christ's love by putting his family and friends before himself and was a devoted member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder.
He was born June 23, 1927 in Murfreesboro, TN to Thomas H. and Olga Camenisch White and graduated from Murfreesboro Central High School in 1945.
He is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Ruth Ann White McDow. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Virginia; sons, John Michael White and wife Jennifer of Austin, and James Thomas White and wife Ann of Frisco, and grandchildren Caleb, Kai, and Keira.
Tommy grew up on a family operated dairy farm where he delivered bottled milk to customers before school each morning. He was the recipient of a Tennessee Vol State Award and a 4-H National Dairy Scholarship at the National 4-H Club Congress, Chicago IL. As a 19 year old, he traveled alone to the English Channel Island of Jersey and brought back a large herd of Jersey cattle for his father. Tommy also exhibited the Grand Champion Jersey Bull at the 1951 National Jersey Show.
He attended Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee. Upon graduation he joined the Navy and in 1953 he received his Naval Aviator wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United State Marine Corps Reserve. While serving in Korea, he flew the F4U-4B Corsair and the AD-4 Skyraider close air support aircraft, and later flew the F9F-8, FJ-4 and F8U Crusader jet aircraft in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Upon returning from Korea, he managed the dairy herd at Happy Valley Farm in Danville, KY, and Mayfield Dairy Farms in Athens, TN. In 1966, he received his MS degree in dairy cattle breeding from the University of Wisconsin.
He married Virginia Elaine Pope of Greenfield, TN on June 11, 1967. They moved to Denton where he became dairy specialist for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service and a member of the Animal Science Department at Texas A& M University. He was the recipient of a Texas Agricultural Extension Service Superior Service Award and Carnegie Medal by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 29th , 11 AM at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 300 W. Oak Street, Denton, Texas.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Music Ministry, 300 W. Oak Street, Denton, TX 76201.