Perry W. White went to be with the Lord on December 30, 2023 at the age of 98.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, January 4, 2024, at 10:00 am at Eastview Cemetery under the direction of Sullivan Funeral Home.

Perry was born at home on the family farm in White City, near Vernon, Texas on November 11, 1925. He grew up helping out on the farm with chores such as chopping cotton and working in the cotton gin. He graduated from Northside School in 1943.   The US entered World War II while he was in high school, and he was drafted into the US Army at age 18 and inducted into the Army in April, 1944. He was shipped overseas and arrived in England on December 19, 1944, and was in France by December 29, 1944. He joined Company C, 311th Regiment, 78th Infantry Division in January, 1945 in Germany and entered combat on the front lines. He was injured twice and received two Purple Hearts.  He remained in Europe as part of the occupying forces after the war in Europe ended and served until he was honorably discharged in March, 1946.  He returned home and attended college at Texas Tech University using the GI Bill from 1947-1951 and graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in accounting.

Upon graduation from Texas Tech he returned to Vernon, Texas and worked on the family farm and in the cotton gin until he started working at the Vernon Coca-Cola Bottling Company. In 1951 he attended a Northside High School basketball game and saw Marguerite Sturdivant walking down the hall in her basketball uniform and was "impressed". Fortunately, her best friend Mary Lea White was Dad's cousin, and she invited Perry and Marguerite to her home one evening and shortly thereafter they went on their first date. Marguerite was the love of his life and they were married at First Baptist Church in Vernon on February 7, 1953. They were married almost 65 years.

Perry and Marguerite moved to Dallas, Texas in 1957 where Perry started his job at Southwestern Life Insurance Company. He remained at the same company  until his retirement in 1990. He was always a diligent worker and was well-liked and respected by his co-workers.  He set an example for his daughters of working hard without complaint, faithfully supporting his family. He used witty sayings at times to teach lessons about hard work, such as "not having to back up to the pay table."

Perry loved Marguerite and his two daughters, Sharon and Sarah, very much and spent most of his free time with his family. As Perry wrote in his memoir, he wasn't sure of the exact definition of the typical family of four but that our family of four had a great time together.  It wasn't so much that we did "exciting"  things all the time, but we just enjoyed being together doing ordinary things. Our home was happy and harmonious and Sharon and Sarah always felt loved, encouraged, and supported. Perry and Marguerite were like two peas in a pod, doing most things together and united in their love for their children and later, grandchildren, Hayden and Henry.  He also prioritized staying connected with his seven siblings and their families, as well as Marguerite's family, taking the family to the annual White family reunion, reunions with Marguerite's family,  and taking the family to Vernon to visit family. He also drove the family on many trips to visit Marguerite's parents in Stephenville, Texas and his daughters remember the fun "country drives" with their Dad exploring  the rural roads.

Perry and Marguerite were members of First Baptist Church in Vernon early in their marriage and upon moving to Dallas, joined Park Cities Baptist Church in 1957.  He remained a member for the rest of his life.  He served his church in several ways including using his accounting skills  and served on the "money counters" committee for decades starting in 1967, which originally meant counting the offering money on Sunday mornings and taking it to the bank after church.  He was ordained a Deacon in 1982 and became a  Life Deacon in 1998 as well as serving  on other committees through the years. Perry was a quiet man of faith, attending church every Sunday with his family, and along with Marguerite, set the example of consistently prioritizing Sunday School and worship on Sundays.  He was a man of great integrity, which he taught mostly by example but also by  just consistently being with his daughters and passing along his wisdom in everyday conversations.

Perry had a great sense of humor and was consistently good-natured and cheerful and known for his clever little puns and jokes. He was kind to everyone and his daughters' friends always enjoyed talking with both Perry and Marguerite when they visited. He was well-loved by all who knew him.  His family will miss him greatly.

Perry is survived by his daughters, Sharon White  and Sarah Thomas (Michael), two grandsons Hayden and Henry Thomas, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Marguerite Sturdivant White, his parents John Richard and Sarah Kathryn Lessly White, and his seven siblings and their spouses.

The family would like to thank all the caregivers and staff from Cerna Homecare who have cared for Perry at home over the last four and a half years, and especially his current  team of caregivers: Alisa, Janelle, Lola, Patience and Sarah.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 3, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Sullivan Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas, First Baptist Church of Vernon, Texas or a charity of your choice.