Thomas E. White - Obituary

homas Elbert White died on June 20, 2017 at home, following a long illness. He was born on October 29, 1939, in Asheville, NC, growing up amid the beautiful Smokey Mountains of NC. Tom was the son of the late Guy Reynolds White and Anna Worley White, and was preceded in death by his only sibling, William Riley White, who died in 1993. Tom is survived by his wife, the Reverend Nancy A. White, and five children: Robert Guy White (Kathryn Ann Ray White); Kristen Leigh Ringle Ketron (Robert James Ketron); William Thomas White (Karen Marie White); Robert Donald Ringle, Jr. (Michele Anne Moniger Ringle); Mary Anne White Daley (Timothy Bernard Daley). He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren (four spouses); eight great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews and their families. His loving family extends across the country and traditionally gathered each year to celebrate family and renew connections at Myrtle Beach. Often attending would be members of the White, Worley and Martin families, including Martha Cline and Arthur Martin. Tom also leaves his former wife, mother of their three children, Norma Gail Roberts of Marshall, North Carolina and Colorado. Tom attended school in his hometown, Marshall, NC. He graduated from Marshall High School in 1957, where he lettered in football. Having been awarded an academic scholarship, he attended Mars Hill Junior College in NC. After one and one-half years, he transferred to Carson-Newman College where he taught Bible Studies in the Tennessee Public Schools as part of his Practice-Teaching requirements. In 1960, Tom, received his BA Degree from Carson Newman and in 1966 earned an MA in Counseling from Western Carolina University. After college, Tom returned to his hometown and taught middle-school for 2 years. Continuing the educational process was of life-long importance to Tom. In testimony to this was his striving to further his own level of knowledge in many areas through continuing education at various area colleges and universities. Whether working on a specific degree, increasing his own knowledge in computing skills or learning something about a new photoshop program, Tom was a life-long learner. In the early 1960's, Tom and family moved to Maryland, where he taught two more years before becoming a counselor with the Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Four years later, he was promoted to Pupil Personnel Worker. Eventually Tom was selected to become Director of Pupil Services, assuming responsibility for the supervision of all School Counselors, Psychologists and Pupil Personnel Workers for the Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Tom retired at age 52 and became a part-time Advisor/Assessor for the Maryland External Diploma Program, a role he served for seven years. Professional and personal affiliations throughout Tom's life included: Teachers Association of Anne Arundel County, International Association of Pupil Personnel Workers, Maryland State Association of Retired School Personnel, BPOE #622, St. James Episcopal Church; where he served on the Vestry and as a member of the Celebration Choir, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church where he also served as a member of the choir and occasional soloist, and as a Member and Chairman of Board of Directors of St. Margaret’s Day School. Hobbies during his life have included genealogy, skiing, backpacking, playing cards, and writing. He is the author of two unpublished historical fictions, as well as collections of stories of family and friends. Friends may visit with the family at the George P. Kalas Funeral Home, 2973 Solomons Island Rd., Edgewater, MD on Friday, June 23 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. A Celebratory Service of Tom's Life will be held at St. James' Parish, Lothian, Maryland, on Saturday, June 24 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, friends are asked to consider a donation to the St. James' Community Assistance Program, % St. James' Parish, 5757 Solomon Island Road, Lothian, MD 20711. Condolences and tributes may be made by clicking the tab on this page.