Obituary

James David White (Jim), age 85, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, passed away on March 11, 2011 after an extended illness. Jim was born on September 28, 1925 in Cranston (Rowan County), Kentucky. He was the son of the late David Green and Rosa Woods White. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers and four sisters, and his first wife Carolyn (Gevedon). He is survived by his loving wife Mary, son David (Jenny), two grandchildren (Jamie and Lauren), and one brother (Don). He also has numerous nieces and nephews. In addition to his family, he is survived by his longtime friend Lucille (Bucky) Buckner, also of Lake Havasu City.

Jim was a veteran of WWII, and was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge at the young age of 19. In his early career, he worked for the IRS and for several companies around northern Kentucky and southern Ohio. He spent thirty years in civil service to the Air Force most recently as a computer systems analyst. A strong Christian, throughout his adult life he served in various positions in church, from Sunday school superintendent and treasurer to deacon. In the mid-1980’s he and Carolyn helped start a small church in southern Ohio where they spent many hours working among the needy in that area. In 1990, Jim and Carolyn moved permanently to Lake Havasu City, summering as park hosts at the Hualapai campground in the Hualapai mountains.

After losing Carolyn to cancer in 2005, Jim was blessed to find a new love in Mary Brooks Ratajczak. They met while attending a grief support group and were married in May of 2007 in the presence of family and friends. Jim and Mary were truly a ‘match made in heaven’, and they treasured every moment they had together. As a couple, they traveled extensively, enjoyed their friendships in church and with the Survivors,

as their grief support friends call themselves, and enjoyed time with their family. While their time together was short, they made the most of every moment together.

Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on March 18 at Community Presbyterian Church, 3450 Chemehuevi Blvd., Lake Havasu City, AZ 86406.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s honor to the church.