Citadel Alumni Deaths

Sidney Carroll (Bill) White 86, died Wednesday evening, 11 November, at
home in Kirby Pines surrounded by his family. Bill was born in Memphis,
Tennessee, June 22, 1923, to S. Carroll and Elizabeth Leigh White. He
graduated from Bartlett High School and enlisted in the US Navy in
November of 1942. He was selected for pilot training and earned his
wings as a US Navy carrier pilot in 1944, flying SBD Dauntless and SB2C
Helldiver attack aircraft, serving in the Atlantic Fleet until
separation in August of 1946. He remained in the Naval Reserve and
retired as a Commander in 1971. He enrolled at the Citadel in
Charleston, South Carolina as a veteran student, and graduated in 1949
with a business degree as a member of the first non-military cadet
student body. He was married to Corinne (Sweetie) Gale in 1949 who
passed away in 1976. Bill followed his father in the lumber business and
worked in South Carolina, California, and New Orleans before returning
to his home in Memphis to work for Armour C. Bowen Lumber Company. He
joined Koppers Company in 1971 and was directly responsible for the
operation of twenty three sawmill facilities. He married Maryestel Ford
in 1977 and in 1978 was recruited by the National Hardwood Lumberman’s
Association (NHLA) as their Executive Manager. He led the NHLA through
the transition move from Chicago to a showplace headquarters facility in
Memphis. He retired from the NHLA 1988. Bill was a member of Germantown
United Methodist and a former member of the Whitehaven United Methodist
Church where he was an adult Sunday School teacher for many years. As a
member of the Lumberman’s Club of Memphis, he was elected President in
1976 and voted Outstanding Lumberman of the Year in 1986. He spearheaded
the effort to showcase the hardwood lumber industry in Memphis by
commissioning the Hardwoods In Dimension exhibit at the Memphis Airport,
which now hangs at Mud Island. Additionally, he served on the Board of
Directors for Agricenter International. Bill delighted in the
camaraderie of long time industry relationships, most especially the
group known as members of the “”Termite Table”". He is survived by his
loving wife Maryestel, of 34 years; his sister Martha Bennett of
Lewisburg, Kentucky; his two sons Carroll (Anne) of St. Louis, Missouri,
and David (Karen), of the Woodlands, Texas; his daughters Gale White
Nyseth of Franklin, Tennessee, Kay Lloyd (Bob) of Maui, Hawaii; Leigh
Scheele of Memphis, and Daphne Hewitt of Memphis; eleven grand children
and eight great-grandchildren. Visitation will be Friday, November 13,
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Memorial Park Funeral Home. Funeral services
will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, November 14 at Germantown United
Methodist Church, located at 2331 S. Germantown Rd. Germantown, TN,
followed by interment at Elmwood Cemetery. Donations may be made to
Germantown United Methodist Church in lieu of flowers.

Tags: 1949