Lee R. White

A Memorial Service for Lee Ross White of Mountain Home, Arkansas, will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, May 29, 2016, at Redeemer Lutheran Church, with Reverend David Gadbaw officiating. Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. until time of service at 3:00 p.m. Entombment will be in Kirby's Tucker Memorial Mausoleum with military honors provided by the United States Air Force Honor Guard.

At age 95 1/2, Lee passed away May 20, 2016 in Mountain Home, Arkansas. His children were at his bedside as he peacefully breathed his last. He was born November 2, 1920, in Vici, Oklahoma, the son of Ralph and Esther Proffitt White. His family moved to Tulare, California during the “dust bowl” days. There he attended high school and college. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps with the intent of becoming a pilot. But, due to a football injury he was unable to finish pilot-training school in Miami, but instead learned aircraft mechanics. He was later stationed at Truax Field in Madison, Wisconsin where he met DeLoris Ziegler. There, they fell in love and were married on Valentines Day 1943. In a few short days he was “shipped out” to the war in Europe. Many love letters were exchanged. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and the Invasion at Utah Beach.

When World War II ended, (nearly three years later) he was discharged and returned to his loving wife in Madison, Wisconsin. With his own hands, he built a “cape cod” style cottage in the countryside of Seminary Springs, Wisconsin. He made a wonderful life for his wife and three children: Rhonda Lynn, Ramona Kay, and Randall Lee. Eventually, Lee worked at Truax Air Base as a heating and cooling engineer where in 1963 he was severely injured in an underground explosion. He suffered 6 months of recovery and rehab with a residual pain in his ankle that would effect him for the rest of his life. Lee was active in his neighborhood as a volunteer at the nearby elementary school (playing Santa at Christmas Celebrations), and also served as a 4-H leader teaching photography and carpentry. He was skilled at handyman and mechanical repairs. He began an orchard and always had an annual garden with DeLoris. For over twenty years, he was an active member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday School. He enjoyed many activities with them: walks in the woods, holidays, birthdays, Sunday afternoon rides, swimming, skating, picnics, barbecues, and sled riding! Cross-country, road trips to visit family in California or Oklahoma also included stops at many of the beautiful, western national parks.

In 1965 the Air Force transferred him to McClellan Air Force Base, Sacramento, California where he worked for about 10 years until he retired. He taught night classes in A.C. engineering. He and Dee were charter members of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. During retirement he and his wife enjoyed traveling to many places including Micronesia, Alaska, and Hawaii.

In 1985, it was on a cross-country road trip when he and his wife discovered Mountain Home, Arkansas. There they would officially retire and buy their home on Spring Park Drive. Lee enjoyed fishing and hosting visitors on his pontoon boat. He was an active member of BPOE and the VFW. He served as an elder at Redeemer Lutheran Church where he and Dee became long-time members, singing in the “Kitchen Band” and the “Golden-Aires.” He so much enjoyed music and relaxed while playing the organ. He was always ready to spread the Love of Jesus by helping others that needed home repairs. Genealogy became a hobby. During his retirement he also wrote a children’s book about his childhood dog. He was also an inventor and patented a moving solar panel. He always enjoyed making friends.

In his lifetime, Lee Ross was a most loving Husband, Daddy, Grandpa, Uncle, Cousin and Great Papa. He has left many happy memories for all of us.

Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warriors Fund.

Arrangements are by Kirby and Family Funeral and Cremation Services.