SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. — Charles Allen White of Southern Pines, N.C., was born April 11, 1918, and passed away Thursday, June 18, 2009. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by family.
A memorial service with military honors, will be held on Saturday, June 27, at 10 a.m. at the Village Chapel of Pinehurst with the Rev. Dr. Larry Ellis officiating.
Born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, he was the son of Margueritte and Charles L. White. He is survived by his wife, June Hargrove White; sons, Peter A. White of Choteau, Mont., and Charles L. White and wife, Anna, of Greensboro, N.C.; a daughter, Mary J. (Jody) White of Greensboro, N.C.; sisters, Mary E. Deeley of Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Barbara J. Sheehe of Bradenton, Fla.; grandchildren, John C. White and wife, Fiana, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Michael A. White, serving in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Rhode Island.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Nancy, in 2001.
After graduation from Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1943, he served as Battalion Surgeon, 90th Division, in Patton’s Third Army late in World War II. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor. He was a Fellow of American College of Physicians, a Fellow of American College of Cardiology and president of the Cleveland Area Heart Society. He also served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Medicine at two major Cleveland, Ohio hospitals.
In 1950, through the combined efforts of the Cleveland Area Heart Society and the Cleveland Board of Health, he founded the Cleveland Children’s Diagnostic Heart Clinic, a referral center for physicians to refer children with suspected heart disease for advice regarding future care. He served as director throughout its 19 years of existence. Over 3,000 children were evaluated and referred for treatment.
Dr. White and his wife, June, moved to Southern Pines in 2004. He was active in hunting, fishing, golf, reading and traveling. An avid bridge player, he began playing duplicate at age 82 and got his Life Masters at age 89. He loved Green Turtle Cay, a small family Bahamian island, and went there annually for 45 years. He was a member of The Country Club on Lander Road, Pepper Pike, Ohio, for 50 years and a former member of Carolina Trace Country Club of Sanford.
The family extends their deepest thanks to Dr. Ellen Willard and wonderful staff at First Heath Hospice and Palliative Care for the overwhelming kindness, compassion and care they gave to Dr. White and the family during his illness.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to FirstHealth Hospice Building Fund, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Online condolences may be made to www.bolesfuneralhome.com.
The family is being served by Boles Funeral Home of Southern Pines.
