Donald "Don" Ray White

Donald “Don” Ray White, born September 24, 1935 in Oklahoma at Fort Sill Army Hospital to LeRoy and Anna (Ballou) White.

Don spent all his young life moving from post to base with his family. Don graduated in 1955 from Ingliside High School in Corpus Christi, Texas; then went to work as lab-tech for Reynolds Aluminum.

Don was drafted in 1957 to the Army, after basic at Fort Chafee, Arkansas, he was sent to Walter Reed Army Hospital as a cancer research tech.

Don came to visit his folks at Mena, Arkansas, the Holly Springs Community and met the love of his life, Carolyn Ganzer at a auction sale. After being discharged from the Army, Don decided to make the military his life’s course, he joined the Air Force and furthered his study in medical research, until he was cross-trained to weapons maintenance. Don went to Puerto Rico; Fairchild, Washington, Okinawa, 2 tours to South East Asia; Barksdale, Louisiana; Carswell, Texas; Lowry, Colorado; Langley, Virginia; England, Louisiana; and many TDY’s to train for B52 missions. What a change from medical labs to alerts and flight line training for his crew.

After 22 years of the military, Don retired in 1979, Don used his GI bill at Rich Mountain and Russellville to get a degree in Electronic Maintenance.

Don and family wanted a quieter life on their farm in Oden. We lived there; among their trees, Oden school for the kids and Oden Methodist Church.

Don also enjoyed working odd jobs even at his age. Don’s old age enjoyment was going to auction sales, flea markets and antique shops to see what he could add to his collection of stuff. He loved to make long bows and arrows, so he and his son, Gary, could go to Oklahoma for Indian gatherings. He was a good archer, he liked to go to his blacksmithing club. He loved to read and practice the art of survival as he learned in the Air Force school in Washington state.

Don was knowledgeable on many subjects and he loved to talk about them, if asked. He loved teaching his kids and grandkids, if they had time to listen. Don loved to go hunt for rocks and cut and polish them for his beloved, Carolyn to design jewelry around them.

Don died in his home in Oden on November 3, 2021 with his family.

Don is survived by Carolyn, wife of 60 years; son Gary Don of Oden; daughter Cindy (Shane) Hamilton of Hot Springs, Arkansas; 2 grandchildren Micheal (Jenna) White and Shelby Hamilton both of Hot Springs, Arkansas; 1 precious great -grand daughter Harper Rae White of Hot Springs; 1 brother David (Toni) White of San Antonio, Texas; and lots of kin-folks, old and new friends. He will be missed very much by all who really knew him.

Visitation will be Friday, November 5, 2021, 9am-10am, at the Oden Methodist Church will service at 10am with Pastors Andy Burks and Mark Lile officiating with burial at the Oden Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, the family ask donations be made to the Oden Cemetery Fund c/o Lisha Ledbetter 143 Brushy Road, Oden, Arkansas 71961. Arrangements were made under the direction of Thornton Funeral Home of Mount Ida, AR. Guest Register at www.thorntonfh.com