LtCol(ret) Richard Arthur White Jr

Richard Arthur White, 80, of Marietta, Ga. died October 10, 2022 and is now relieved of his physical limitations and all discomfort. He was born February 17, 1942 in Orange, N.J. to Ruth Osborne White and Col. Richard A. White, Sr., where his father was an instructor at West Point. Because his father was career Army, Dick attended schools in Germany, Japan, Syracuse, N.Y., Ft. Lee, Va., and graduated from Monterrey High School, Ca. He also attended the West Point Prep School, received a Bachelor Degree from Chaminade University, Honolulu, an MBA from Pepperdine University in Malibu, was a Ph.D. Candidate having completed all coursework at Golden Gate University, San Francisco, and completed courses in an Executive Education Program at the Harvard Business School. Dick enlisted in the Army at age 18 and graduated from Officers Candidate School at age 20. He proudly served in “The Old Guard” at Arlington Cemetery in Washington, D.C., completed the U.S. Army Airborne and Ranger School and the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, and Jumpmaster Course. Although he had completed his service in the Army and was in the Reserves, he volunteered to reenlist to serve in Vietnam in 1968. His first view of Vietnam was from a 30,000 ft. jump into the Saigon airport during the Tet offensive, then on to Pleiku and the 4th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 22 Infantry, where he was made commander of Charlie Company, because he was the only Airborne Ranger in the command. Dick received the Silver Star for Gallantry in Action, a Bronze Star for Heroism in Ground Combat, a Bronze Star for Meritorious Achievement in Ground Operations Against Hostile Forces, two Meritorious Service Medals, two Air Medals, and the Army Commendation Medal for Heroism in the Republic of Vietnam. He also served as Senior Personal Staff Officer for the Commanding General in the 4th Infantry Division in the Republic of Vietnam. Following Vietnam he was Chief Instructor at the Florida Ranger Camp, and was a graduate of the Command and General Staff Officer Course. He retired as a Lt. Col. in 1984. After retiring from the Army, Dick worked for the Lockheed Corporation in Burbank, Ca. for five years, where he met his future wife, Cheryl Tamblyn White, while she was working there on assignment from the Lockheed Georgia Company. They married a year later, and were married for almost 36 years. While living in Los Angeles, Dick served on the board of Project Heavy, an organization designed to benefit inner-city children, and volunteered as a leader for Junior Achievement. He later worked as a consultant in the private sector and for the Army while living in Merritt Island, Fl. and in Marietta. In one assignment for the Army Research Institute, he interviewed hundreds of Iraq war veterans at Ft. Stewart, Ft. Benning, and Kuwait in a study to determine combat effectiveness. Dick was a long time member of St. James’ Episcopal Church in Marietta where he served on the Vestry, was a Verger, an Usher, Director of the Thrift Shop, an office volunteer, and worked on several Habitat for Humanity projects. He served on the Bell Tower Committee that was responsible for the installation of the change-ringing tower bells, and also completed the Education for Ministry Course (EFM) administered by The Univ. of the South, School of Theology. Dick was preceded in death by his father Col. Richard A. White, Sr., his mother Ruth Osborne Reichle, and his stepfather, Art Reichle, former head baseball coach at UCLA. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Tamblyn White, two daughters, Doree Morse and Toby White, his grandchildren, Declan Morse, Tara Morse, and Dane White, sister Barbara Reynolds, and brother and sister-in-law Peter and Sylvia White; his two step-daughters, Angela DuPre and her husband Hank, and Carla Moore, step-grandchildren Ashley Pittman, Harris and Cindy DuPre, Thomas Moore, Carolann and Jack Margeson, and Julia DuPre; uncle Dick Osborne; sister-in-law Barbara Clapp, and his devoted dog Ruthie. Dick will be remembered as kind-hearted, funny, charming, but always an officer and a gentleman, who will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Cheryl wishes to thank the wonderful care partners and staff at Sterling Estates Memory Care of West Cobb and the Agape hospice workers who cared for him with love and kindness. A service with Military escort will be held Friday, October 14 at St. James' Episcopal Cemetary Cremation Garden, 121 Polk St., Marietta, Ga. 30064. Mayes Ward is in charge of arrangements.

LtCol(ret) Richard Arthur White Jr

February 17, 1942 - October 10, 2022