Richard “Dick” White

Richard A. White, age 85 of Pompton Plains, NJ, and formerly of Wayne and Galloway, died on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

“Dick,”as most knew him, grew up in Warren, Pennsylvania, living and working on the family farm in Starbrick, PA. At an early age, he set out to read every book he could get his hands on. Once he finished all the books in his small school library, he went back and read his favorites over again and again, often the history books. 

After graduating from Warren High School in 1956, Dick wasted no time in joining the U.S. Air Force.  He was stationed all around the United States during his time in the service, including McGuire AFB in New Jersey. He served proudly as a Ground Surveillance Radar Technician with the 332nd Fighter-Interceptor Squadron from 1956 – 1960. 

Upon his honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1961, Dick began working forBunker Ramo Corporation, a leader in computer innovation. He stayed on with them throughout his entire forty-one-year career! He retired in 2000 as a Field Service Engineer. During that time he also served in the National Guard.

Dick met his wife, Lynn, while he was in the Air Force. Stationed at McGuire AirForce Base, he and his fellow Airmen would head ‘down the shore’ to Seaside Heights. On one particular day, they stopped to talk with some girls that caught their eye. Lynn accepted a date with Dick, and a romance ensued. 

When Dick started his new job with Bunker Ramo, it required a move to Salt Lake City, Utah. Not wanting to be separated, Lynn and Dick tied the knot on July 24,1961 and headed west. They lived in Salt Lake City for the first four months of their marriage before coming back to New Jersey. They settled in North Arlington for ten years, then lived in the Lions Head Lake section of Wayne fornearly fifteen years, followed by twenty years in Montville. They retired to Galloway, NJ where they lived for nearly fifteen years before settling at Cedar Crest Village in Pompton Plains just three years ago. They enjoyed some wonderful travel together over the years, visiting places like Mexico, Bavaria, Russia, Italy, The Netherlands, England, and almost all of the fifty United States. They also treasured several multi-generational family vacations over the years with their children and grandchildren. He and Lynn had over sixty wonderful years together, and she will miss him dearly.

Dick loved wildlife photography and had won awards for his pictures. He also remained an avid reader during his lifetime and was a true history buff. He loved playing chess, cards, and darts. He also loved all things technology. He was a pretty darned good cook, too, in later years. He was a fan of the NY Mets, the NY Jets, and the Penn State Nittany Lions. More recently at Cedar Crest Village, he was a skilled Bocce ball player and co-captain of “The Olympians” Bocce team. He lived well and made good use of the time he enjoyed here.

Dick was a devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. Family meant everything to him. He is survived by his dear wife of almost sixty-two years; Lynn of Pompton Plains, their two children; Bill White and his wife Julia of Ardmore, PA, and Dana White Petrie and her husband Bob of Wayne, and six grandchildren; Miranda, Rebecca, and Sarah White, and Siena, Nieve, and Blaise Petrie, as well as several nieces, nephews, and half siblings. He was predeceased by his three siblings; David White, Nancy Griffin, and Linda (Marion) Swanson. He was also predeceased by Carol and Morris Hauser, his mother- and father-in-law, who loved him like a son.