Robert Render White

Robert Render White, 98, passed away February 18, 2014 at the Veterans Administration Community Living Center in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was born in LaGrange, Georgia on December 4, 1915. Upon graduating from high school in Greenville, he studied forestry at Auburn University and the University of Georgia. He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps and in forestry during the Great Depression. At the outbreak of World War II, he joined the Army Air Corps. As a second lieutenant, his first assignment was bombardier on the first B-29 accepted by the Air Corps. On a B-24 crew in Europe, he flew 50 missions with the most decorated unit in the history of the Armed Forces, the 376th Bomb Group (H), 514th Squadron, based in Italy. During his distinguished 24 year Air Force career, he served in Okinawa, Vietnam and various stateside assignments. His awards include two Distinguished Unit Badges, European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with seven Battle Stars, Korean and Vietnam Theater Medals with a Battle Star each and the World War II Victory Medal. His extended family remembers him not as a distinguished military man, but as a devoted husband, a loving father, and a teacher of life’s most important lessons – unwavering honesty, humility, and courage. His many friends remember Bob as a superb storyteller, fisherman and lover of life. He didn’t catch every fish in Bayou Bernard, but he tried. He is preceded in death by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Saffold White; his son, Kenneth Lee White, and his grandson, Michael Christopher Jester. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Lydia Elise White; brother, Clarence Twitty White; daughter, Lydia Elise White; son, Robert Render White, Jr. and wife, Ginger; daughter, Alma Marie White; grandchildren, Heather Renee White, Mary Allison White and Tyler Ross White. There will be a memorial service on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of Bob’s life after the service at the Blow Fly Inn. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com