Richard White

Richard "Dick" Earl White, 85, of Findlay passed away Sunday, October 27, 2019.

Richard "Dick" Earl White was born January 10, 1934 in Terre Haute, IN to Shannon R. Sr. and Maude Irene White.  He was the youngest of three children, a sister Gertrude "Pauline" who passed in 2012 and a brother, Shannon of Goshen, IN.

Dick was married in Terre Haute to Emily Yeager in 1951, and to that union was born Richard "Rick" of Poulsbo, WA, Deborah of Washington, D. C., John of Bainbridge IS, WA, and Stefanie of Santa Monica, CA.  He later married Lillian Starr of Pawley's IS, South Carolina.  In 1998 he married Jennifer Payne of Findlay, OH, and to this union Charlotte of Findlay, OH was born.

In his youth Dick was an outstanding athlete in most sports, earning letters at Wiley High School in basketball, baseball and golf.  He received the McMillan Award in 1951 as Terre Haute's Outstanding High School Athlete.  He was also a scholar and earned an academic scholarship to Indiana University, Bloomington, where he played varsity basketball for three years and was an important part of the 'Hurrying Hoosiers’ who won the NCAA Championship title in 1953. For this he was named the nation’s “Best Sixth Man in the Country.” He also played on the golf team during his time at IU.  After college, he continued to play golf and won titles and club championships in Illinois, Ohio and Geneva, Switzerland.  He learned to play tennis in his forties and won matches over much younger men.

Following graduation, he joined the Marathon Oil Company and accepted assignments throughout the Midwest, South Carolina and Geneva, Switzerland, Dick was a man with many goals and dedicated his 44-year career to Marathon. He assumed many positions including real estate sales & acquisitions, consolidation of six retail store brands into the Speedway chain, and worked his way to Vice President of Marketing which was the position he held for 13 years until he retired in 1999. After retirement he worked as a consultant for Hyperion and was key in trying to establish a key project for South Dakota. Dick not only was a successful businessman but was a people person and community leader. He was the chairman of the Hancock County Republican Party, a trustee at the University of Findlay, member of the Findlay Country Club, and active in many parts of the Findlay/Hancock County area.

Additionally, Dick was also an accomplished pilot, owned his own plane, and was generous to family and friends by flying them across the midwest and southeast; especially to Hilton Head Island where he owned homes. His hobbies included photography, collecting coins and spending hours at the dining room table going through them with his brother, having fun on his property driving his tractor and red pickup truck, and savoring Dietsch’s chocolate covered pecans and an ice-cold Coca Cola from a bottle with his Charlotte.

Dick was a social person, easy to like, worked hard for his family and gave each benefits to help them along life's journey. He loved his family and received their love in return.  Late in life, when the Gospel story was read from the Holy Bible, and he and his brother were discussing life after death, he repented of his sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord by saying "I want that”.  He will be sorely missed but, with that confession of faith, not only will memories and blessing received from Dick on this earth comfort those who he loved & loved him but also will the promise of Heaven. 

The family cordially invites you to a memorial to celebrate Dick’s life on Sunday, November 10th at 2:30 pm at the Winebrenner Auditorium on The University of Findlay campus. A reception will follow in the Atrium of Winebrenner until 5:00PM

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the University of Findlay, c/o the Findlay Fund, or to the Charlotte Alexis White Educational Fund at First Federal Bank.

Arrangements have been entrusted with the HANNEMAN FUNERAL HOME, 201 Osborn Ave., Findlay, Ohio 45840

Online condolences, as well as fond memories may be sent to Richard’s family at www.hannemanfh.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Richard White, please visit our floral store.