Wayne Carl White

Those of you who knew Wayne know how much he loved OU Football and his wife Jessie, the real love of his life.

Wayne was born on August 7, 1926 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma and passed away peacefully on April 12, 2015 at the age of 88. He was the only child of Walter Carl White and Elizabeth A. Taylor White. They later moved to Vinita, Oklahoma where Wayne grew up and graduated from high school in 1944. Wayne was a proud veteran of the United States Army Air Corps, serving his country during World War II. Shortly after returning from the service, he enrolled in the University of Oklahoma where he graduated in 1951 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism.

In the fall of 1951, Wayne moved to Sallisaw, Oklahoma where he took a position with the Sequoyah County Times Newspaper as News Editor. There he met his wife, Jessie Benge, and they were married in the First Christian Church on March 29, 1952. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma where they have called home for over 60 years. Wayne's professional career was in sales, working for Cooper Supply Plumbing & Heating Wholesale Company and Crane Supply Company, which later became Hajoca, and he retired in 1990.

Wayne had a love and talent for music. In high school he played the coronet, baritone, taps and echo taps, and played the baritone in the Army Band and OU Marching Band. He was active in the Yale Avenue Christian Church for many years, serving as a Deacon and Elder, and sang in the church choir. The last several years, before the decline of his health, he attended Regency Park Church of the Nazarene.

He was active in the Downtown Sertoma Club (Service to Mankind), also a 32nd Degree Mason, Delta Blue Lodge #425, Acacia Fraternity, Lifetime member in the OU Alumni Association, especially enjoyed his OU Sooners football, TU basketball, fishing, golfing and keeping a manicured lawn.

Wayne lived the last few years of his life at the VA Center in Claremore (since October 18, 2011) in the Dementia/Alzheimer's Unit where he received good care from kind and compassionate staff, doctors, nurses and aides.

Wayne was predeceased by his parents; mother-in-law, Juanita Watts, whom he loved dearly; and his sister Wynona Sheppard and her husband Bill; and also his best friend of 70 years, George C. Wheat. (Wayne was deeply saddened and touched to tears when he learned of George passing.)

He is survived by his loving and "love of his life" wife, Jessie Benge White; brother-in-law, Jimmy Watts and his wife Ellen of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; nephew, Michael J. Watts, his wife Susan and their daughter Maycie, of Dardenne, Missouri; niece, Michelle Watts Reamy, her husband Andrew, and their son Jaydon, of Tahlequah, Oklahoma; nephew, Randall Wayne Sheppard of Sallisaw, Oklahoma; and three first cousins in Washington State.

Wayne was a good and kind man, always willing to help in time of need, and was known as a "Mr. Fix-it Man". There wasn't much of anything he could not fix.

Wayne will be greatly missed and remembered by those who loved him dearly.

Jessie would like to extend her heartfelt gratitude and sincere appreciation to her friends who have been extended family to her and Wayne, and especially to the pastoral staff of Regency Park, without them and God's grace, she could not have made it through this journey of a long goodbye.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at Moore's Southlawn Chapel. Funeral Services will be 11 AM, Wednesday, at Regency Park Nazarene Church. Interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors.

For more information, please contact FITZGERALD IVY CHAPEL 918-585-1151 or for directions to the Moore Southlawn Chapel (918) 663-2233