Buddy "Lee A." White Jr.

Buddy was born September 29, 1932 in Jacksonville, Florida to mother Julia Copelan of Greensboro, Georgia and father Al White of Fort White, Florida. As an infant, his family moved to Tallahassee. At Leon High School he was an athlete and honor student and graduated in 1950. While a freshman at Florida State University, he was inclined towards a medical career but that was ruled out financially due to his father’s death. He proceeded towards a business degree and joined the SAE social fraternity. He graduated FSU in 1954. He was then drafted into the Army and stationed into Alaska for 21 months and honorably discharged in 1956. Buddy joined IBM’s training program and was sent to New Orleans, Louisiana where he met, dated, and married (1958) Jane Torkington of Greenville, South Carolina. Their honeymoon was in Havana, Cuba. Buddy left IBM for Traveler Insurance Company in Hartford, Connecticut and then transferred to Chicago, Illinois. He enjoyed watching the White Sox and the Cubs’ baseball games. In Chicago he found Dow Chemical where he remained for 33 years. Buddy moved to Dow’s headquarters in Midland, Michigan and his first assignment with Dow was Atlanta, Georgia. He moved to Clearwater, Florida as a resident salesman. In 1964, Buddy and his wife Jane adopted six-week-old Allison from the St. Petersburg Children’s Home Society. They moved back to Dow’s home office in Midland, Michigan. His next assignment in London, England for four wonderful years. With a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and their Dalmatian, Buddy and Jane decided to live in the English country side – Sunninghill in Berkshire near Windsor Castle and the Ascot Race Track. Buddy really enjoyed racing season. Commuting an hour and a half to work was exhausting and he decided to move right into London for the last two years of his assignment. Buddy and his family lived off the Kensington High - Edwardes Square (the second largest residential square in London). Roger Bannister, who broke the four-minute mile record in 1954, lived 3 doors down. His little girl Charlotte and Allison played together. The White’s four-story townhouse was fully furnished and belonged to Sir Peter and Lady Frances Ramsbotham. He later became the British Ambassador in Washington, D.C. A Danish Au Pair joined the family so they could travel. Buddy was in the International Headquarters (Zurich, Switzerland) every six weeks so the family could rent a car and see a country on a long weekend. Some of the trips included three weeks in the Soviet Union, Rhine River in Costa del Sol, Spain, and a Greek cruise. Some London events included lunch at the Houses of Parliament, the Lord Mayor of London’s house, Wimbledon tennis, and all the theatre and nightlife that could be squeezed in. Returning to the United States they sailed the Queen Elizabeth II for four days to New York and flew to Chicago. The Dow office was now in the suburbs. Their first home “to own” was in Arlington Heights – northwest of Chicago and convenient to O’Hare airport as Buddy would use for work. In Chicago, Buddy and his wife joined the Tallahassee Ski Club. Every January when school was out the Tally families would fly to a ski resort out west and they would join them. Buddy’s next assignment was Seattle, Washington. The office was in Bellevue (twenty minutes from Seattle). Therefore, so was their home. The “outdoor” lifestyle offered hiking, cycling, and snow skiing in the Cascade Mountain range. They lived in Bellevue when Mount St. Helens blew in May 1980. They did it all. Skied January – March, hiked and cycled weekly. Some of the hikes took them out of the country: Turkey, Morocco, Greece, Italy, Chile, and many to England. Buddy cycled Ireland twice with a friend and Italy and France with his wife. Their last move with Dow would be Charlotte, North Carolina. They were there ten years. There was no hiking or cycling group, so golf came into his life. Now closer to Tallahassee, he visited his mother more often and did Leon and FSU reunions. With retirement from Dow, they chose to go back to Bellevue, Washington and all the activities it offered. Their home was built by a lady from Lyon, France – their favorite. It had a view of the Cascade Mountain range and Lake Sammamish below. As a sports fan, Buddy got a season ticket to the Seattle Seahawks football games and he joined friends for the University of Washington football games. As aging came upon them, the activities lessened. So – it was time to come back to Tally (full circle for him). May 2010, he bought their house in Killearn which backs on to the golf course. As their last Dalmatian died (they had 4 total) – Allison saw to it that Buddy had a lap dog, a rat terrier rescue from PetSmart named “Jack.” Five days later, Jane heard about a golden retriever that had been crated most of her six months and said “I’ll take her – sight unseen – she needs a good home.” They had a “Mutt & Jeff” team – they are inseparable. They were Buddy’s companions as he no longer drove and left the house less and less. However, he did do Olli courses and Economics Club which met monthly. Plus, the senior luncheons at St. Peter’s. The last month was difficult! In and out of TMH twice, Health South Rehab, Hospice at home, and finally Hospice House. He died there March 16 with his wife and daughter by his side. No flowers please. A remembrance in Buddy’s name can be given to Big Bend Hospice where they lovingly cared for him. His service is Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 1pm at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral on Thomasville Road. A reception in the Parish Hall by the ladies of the church will follow the service. Susie Mozolic and Breanna Green of Bevis Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements. (www.bevisfh.com 850-385-2193)

Tributes

Buddy "Lee A." White Jr.

September 29, 1932 - March 16, 2018