Smith (Son) Wayne White, born March 11, 1926 in Bryan County, Okla. to Henry Elick White and Ruth Madline (Snellgrove) White passed away at the age of 92 on July 30, 2018.
He leaves behind the love of his life, wife, Bernice Franks White. They were married 70 years on June 5, 2018.
He is also survived by his daughters, Jean Lewis of Durant, Okla., Terecia Beam and husband Randy of Sandusky, Texas, Cathy Roller of Calera, Okla., Yvonne Cullum and husband David of Krum, Texas and Elaine Thurmon of Celina, Texas; only son, Smith Jr. and wife Carrie of Celina, TX; 13 granddaughters, three grandsons,13 great granddaughters and 13 great grandsons, three great-great granddaughters and two great-great grandsons; five brothers: Ken White, Joe White and wife Shirley of Durant, Jackie Paul White and wife Marty of Yantes, Texas, Ben White and wife Karen of McKinney, Texas, Pat White and wife Kayla of Whitesboro, Texas; seven sisters: Billie Paddock of Calera, Syble Clark of Durant, Sylvia Lorance of Durant, Sue Edwards of Durant, Bonnie Myers and husband David of Decatur, Texas, Patty Jenkins and husband Bill of Quinlan, Texas, and Nancy Perry and husband Stanley of Lewisville, Texas along with many nieces, nephews, other extended family members and dear friends.
Smith is preceded in death by his parents; four brothers: James (Jim), Oscar, H.O., and Ronnie; two sisters: Doris Colleen and Margaret Ruth; two great-greatgrandchildren: Kennedy Holloway and Caroline Barron; sons-in-law Bryan Thurmon, Carl Boyer, and David Carter.
He attended school in Cobb, Texas until eighth grade when he quit to go to work and help support his family. He received an honorary high school diploma through the Governor of Oklahoma in 2002. At the age of 18, Smith White drafted into the U.S. Army during WWII. He served under General Patton, stationed in France and Germany. He also served as a security guard at the Nurenburg Trials at the age of 19.
After his service, he began his work career in construction. For 15 years he built grain elevators all over the United States with his family by his side. They settled down in Lewisville, Texas in 1964 and began working for Vanco Construction Co. building huge warehouses in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. He finally retired in 1986 and returned back home to Durant on the 10 acres he had bought for his parents after military duty.
Services for Smith will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2018 at Brown’s Funeral Service Chapel in Durant with Keith McIntyre officiating. Interment will follow in Mt. Tabor Cemetery in Whitesboro, Texas with Larry Wells, Garry Wells, Earl Gibby, Michael White, James Lloyd Paddock, Jody White, Kendall White and Kenneth Ray White serving as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be his three grandsons Josh Roller, Cody Carter, and Kevin Lewis. The family will accept friends Tuesday evening from 6-8 p.m. at the Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Encompass Home Health and Hospice in Durant.
Online condolences may be made to the family at brownsfuneralservice.com
