Elwin “Edward” T. White, age 91, of Davidson, NC and formerly of Paterson, passed away on Sunday, June 18, 2017. Ed was lovingly cared for in his last days by Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region at the Levine Dickson Hospice House. Family members gathered in the days prior to his passing to show their love and support for Ed.

Born and raised in Paterson, Ed attended St. Bonaventure’s Grammar and High School.

Ed’s mother, Mae White, was left alone to raise him and his six brothers when Ed was just a young boy. As an adult, Ed would often reminisce about his mother Mae, noting his great love and admiration for her. He’d recall stories of the lengths she would go to support her boys, by doing the neighbor’s laundry or using her amazing gift of baking to make homemade bread to sell for income. He’d also tell stories to demonstrate her sense of humor, like how she hid a chunk of limburger cheese under the bed which several of Ed’s brothers slept in. Ed would wait and watch from the other room to see them suddenly squirm when the putrid smell of that cheese hit their noses. He loved stunts like that and he obviously got his own sense of humor from his mom.

Ed met the love of his life, Crucie Angelella, one evening at a local dance. Dancing was a great passion to both of them and they were masters of a dance called the Lindy Hop – a style of dance that was popular during the swing era of the late 1930’s and early 1940’s. Being a proud Italian, at first, Crucie’s father did not want her to be dating Ed because of his Irish descent. Over time though, he realized what a good man Ed was. Ed and Crucie made their wedding promises to each other on Sunday, May 10, 1953 then honeymooned in New York City. At the time, Ed was 28 and Crucie was 20. They settled into their first home together in Paterson and soon began their family. Ed and Crucie enjoyed a loving marriage of 44 years until her passing in 1997.

At age 18 Ed began a career with Bogue Electric of Paterson. Over the next 41 years, he worked up the ranks to become a machine shop foreman. He retired in 1989.

As his mom so wonderfully modeled, Ed’s devotion was first and foremost felt for his wife and children. Always striving to be a good provider, he regularly worked second and third jobs as a banquet waiter on weeknights and weekends at the Friar Tuck Inn and Mayfair Farms as well as many other venues. In his job with Bogue Electric he regularly forfeited a week of his vacation time, choosing instead to work those extra days so that he could take that extra earned money to take Crucie and his children out for dinner and for long weekends down the Jersey shore in Wildwood – almost every year. Ed also spoke lovingly and often about his brothers, especially Leo, who was also his closest friend. Family was the driving passion of Ed's life and he demonstrated his love for his wife and children through his hard work. He exemplified a 'good provider' and often worked an extra shift so the family would have tuition and the things a growing family of four children needed.

Besides his family, Ed derived a tremendous amount of pleasure from participating in sports. His favorites were golf, bowling and basketball and he belonged to many adult leagues, even while his kids were growing up. After retirement and when he moved to Midlothian Virginia, Ed gladly took a job as a golf ranger at the nearby Birkdale Country Club so he could continue playing. He loved this so much so he continued in the job for the next 20 years and played golf at Birkdale until he was 86 years old. He also loved watching all kinds of sports on television, especially the New York Giants and Knicks and golf matches. An avid political news watcher in his later years, he loved to debate the merits of any politician or political trend.

For the first 64 years of his life, from birth to 1990, Ed was a faithful parishioner of St. Bonaventure’s R.C. Church in Paterson. He also served on the Pastoral Council for the Servants of the Holy Cross Prayer Community, working with fellow members to serve God and the church community from 1978 to 1990. Upon his move south to Virginia in 1990, Ed soon found friends and fellowship becoming a parishioner of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Midlothian. He served as a Eucharistic minister for many years. In his later years, when he couldn’t make it to mass, Ed would tune into the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) where he could watch Catholic-themed programming around the clock.

Always the life of the party, Ed had a great sense of humor. More importantly, he will always be remembered for being a loving husband, father, son, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather who was always there when you needed him.

Ed is survived by his four children and their spouses: Ed and Barbara White of Midlothian, VA, Ron and MaryLynne White Pisano of Wayne, NJ, Michael and Elizabeth White of Davidson, NC, and Patrick and Dominie White of Martinez, CA. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Raymond and Rosemary White of Ocean Acres, NJ. Ed’s fourteen grandchildren include Beth White, Tim White, Amanda White Condrey, Christina Pisano Peppinghaus, Julie Pisano De Pew, Nick Pisano, Joshua White, Kelly White Carpenter, Mary White Roop, Bianca Ochoa, Patrick White Jr., Evan White, and Leo White. His five great-grandchildren are Brandon Peppinghaus, Lily Peppinghaus, April De Pew, Josephine White and Samson White. In addition to his beloved wife Crucie, Ed was predeceased by his mother and father, Mary 'Mae' and John White, and brothers: Joe, Harry, Jackie, Bobby and Leo White.

In lieu of flowers, those planning an expression of sympathy in Ed’s name are asked to consider the Hospice and Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28204 or online at www.hpccr.org.