Arthur Wayne White

Arthur Wayne White passed away Friday, September 25, 2015.

A celebration of his life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 5, at Hollow Hill Farm, 1680 Mary Drive, Weatherford, 76085. Please call 682-233-3065 for directions. Private committal and military honors will be at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery at a later date; a portion of his cremated remains will be scattered in his beloved childhood home, within the Tennessee mountains.

Memorial gifts may be made in Wayne’s name to Tarrant Area Food Bank, 2600 Cullen St., Fort Worth, Texas 76107; or Parkinson’s Support Group of Tarrant County, P.O. Box 939, Hurst, Texas 76053.

He was born September 3, 1930, in Bristol, Virginia, to Millard and Eunice Barker and was placed in an orphanage with his sister, Paula, at an early age. He was adopted at age 6 by Arthur and Clara White of High Point, Virginia. He graduated from high school at High Point and Hiwassee Junior College, Hiwassee, Tennessee. He then entered the Air Force for two years of active duty in Korea. At the end of his term, he immediately joined the Texas National Guard. He served honorably until his 60th birthday, retiring September 3, 1990, as chief warrant officer. The peak of his career was spent at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., where he coordinated the changeover in weaponry for the National Guard nationwide. He was awarded the Legion of Merit for meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements among other citations.

At age 20, he married his first wife, Sylvia Hashbarger. They had no children of their own, but reared Sylvia’s grandson, Damon, to whom Wayne gave his name. She died in 1996.

He later met and married Sarah LaPrelle in Fort Worth. They had 18 wonderful years together spending nine of those years in their dream place, Shady Valley, Tennessee, surrounded by the natural beauty of the eastern Tennessee Appalachian and Holston mountains. They returned to Texas and resided first in San Angelo before moving back to the Fort Worth area.

He was a dedicated elder in the Shady Valley and John Knox Presbyterian Churches, in Tennessee and Texas, where he served both for many years on the Session. At John Knox, he served on the business committee and was coordinator of the food pantry for the needy until ill health prevented his participation.

Arthur is survived by his devoted wife, Sarah; son, Damon and his wife, Ann; granddaughters, Jennifer Altizer and husband, Robert, Laura Pouraz and husband, Travis; great-grandchildren, Connor and Sarah Altizer, and Wyatt and Elliot Pouraz; sister, Paula Millard and her family; stepsons, Rogers LaPrelle and wife, Cynde, and Robert LaPrelle and Jenny Conn; stepgrandchildren, Chad, Courtney and Megan LaPrelle; and many beloved friends.