Bob Hal White

Bob was born in Santa Fe, Oklahoma, on August 20th, 1938, to Raleigh A. White and Mamie White and came from very humble beginnings. He spent his childhood years in Velma Alma, Oklahoma, and then he moved to Comanche, Oklahoma, as a teenager with his mother Mamie, and sisters Shirley, Helen, and Marie. Bob joined the football team (as a guard) in Comanche as a Freshman in High School and also played on the basketball and baseball teams. While attending school and playing sports he got a job at the local theater as a projectionist. He also worked at Moon’s Service Station during the summer months. Bob graduated from Comanche High School in May of 1956. He then attended Southwestern University in Weatherford, Oklahoma, for one year and transferred to Cameron Junior College in Lawton, Oklahoma, to be closer to home. While at Cameron College Bob joined the ROTC in which he received honors. After graduating from Cameron College, he enrolled in the University of Oklahoma in pursuit of a pharmaceutical degree. While at OU Bob also enrolled in Banking School in Oklahoma City and had already begun his path toward his love of banking. His first banking employment was at the Security National Bank in Oklahoma City where he worked until he was offered a cashier’s position at American Exchange Bank in Norman. Having then graduated from Banking School, after two years with American Exchange Bank he was offered and accepted the position of Vice President with the Bank of Turley in Turley, Oklahoma. Bob’s only son Bob Bradley White was born just prior to the move to Turley. He, his wife Patsy, and their new son then moved to Turley and were there for 6 years. Bob joined the National Guard while in Turley and served 6 years during their time there. Bob was then contacted by the Bank of Rangely in Rangely, Colorado, and accepted a position as President in 1975. After the move to Rangely, his family immediately became part of the small community and joined the Southern Baptist Church where Bob eventually became a deacon. Rangely was a welcoming town with hard working people and Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, and snowmobiling. After several years at the original location, the Board of Directors decided to build a new bank building. The new building was a nice addition to a growing community. With a change to the Board of Directors in 1997 came a directive to sell the bank. At that point, Bob retired from the banking industry after 32 years. At that point, he and his new wife Betty bought a clothing business in town that they operated for 2 years before selling and moving to Lindsay, Oklahoma in 1999 where Bob was close to many old friends and family. They deeply enjoyed their time in Lindsay and were very active in the church and in supporting missions and charities. After Betty went to be with Lord Bob met Betty Burnside who he developed a relationship quickly. Bob and Betty were married on April 15th, 2000. In May of 2002, Bob’s only grandchild was born. The world welcomed Summer Bradlee-Raine White on the 17th of that month. Bob and Betty enjoyed many happy years in Lindsay and also bought a second home on Lake Arbuckle which they would frequently visit in the summer months. They also stayed very active in church, mission, and charity giving. In October 2018 Betty passed away and Bob did his best to carry on and stayed close to her family. In January of 2021, Bob called his son Brad and told him it was time for him to move to Pearland, Texas (just south of Houston) where he could be closer to him and have the support he needed in his later years. Brad moved him to Houston in March of 2021. Being fiercely independent, Bob insisted on living on his own and moved into a nice 55+ apartment complex close to Brad and his family. He joined a local church, First Baptist Church of Pearland, which was just a short drive away. Yes, Bob was still driving (in Houston – the fourth largest city in America) at this point! First Baptist Church also supported and housed a K-12 school that Bob’s granddaughter Summer had attended through 5th grade. He was very proud of that fact. Bob did an amazing job of assimilating himself into life in the city. Pearland actually has somewhat of a small town feel while being just south of a big city. Well, at least that’s what they like to say. Bob quickly triangulated between Walmart, HEB (the large grocery store), and his apartment. Each day he was on the move to one or all of them, even commonly venturing out to see just how far he go without getting lost. Many of these adventures he decided to take were during rush hour traffic! Brad commonly wouldn’t find out the whole story of these adventures until much later. In November of 2021, it was decided that Bob needed to move to an assisted living facility. Trinity Oaks was previously owned and operated by the First Baptist Church of Pearland and he could walk right across the parking lot to church every Sunday. They also had a daily bible study at 9 a.m. and he was very content living there. In that same month, at (go figure) rush hour, Bob got into an auto accident that wasn’t his fault but unfortunately (or fortunately) ended his driving days. However, this didn’t inhibit his need to be on the move on foot, so in January of 2022 Brad bought him an electric scooter and it was off races again. Brad put a tracker on the scooter and was surprised to note sometimes that there were trips up to a mile away to pick up Popeye’s Chicken or tools at Harbor Freight. Luckily the Walmart was a bit beyond the range of the scooter. He also remained committed to walking as much as he could as his mobility was always very important to him. In late January of 2023, Bob suffered a stroke and, although the initial results of surgery looked somewhat promising, he was never able to get back on the road to recovery. Bob went to see his heavenly father at a loving, Christian, personal hospice home in the early hours of March 10th, 2023. He will be missed dearly. Bob is survived by his Son and Daughter-in-law Brad and Patty White, his only granddaughter Summer White, his loving sister Helen Lebsock of Denver, Colorado along with nieces and nephews throughout the country. He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Shirley and Marie, and his precious aunt Jo Thompson. Visitation for Bob will be held at the Wilbourn Family Funeral Home from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Thursday, March 16, 2023. A funeral service to honor the life of Bob is set to begin at 10:00 AM. on Friday, March 17, 2023, at the First Baptist Church in Lindsay, Oklahoma. He will be laid to rest at Green Hill Cemetery following the service. The funeral will be live-streamed on the Wilbourn Family Funeral Home Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/wilbournfamilyfuneralhome Services are under the direction of Scott and Angel Wilbourn Family Funeral Home in Lindsay, Oklahoma. Condolences may be made to the family online at www.wilbournfamilyfuneralhome.com

Bob Hal White

August 20, 1938 - March 10, 2023

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