Robert White

Although his life was filled with many rewarding experiences, there was nothing of greater importance in the life of Robert White than his roles of husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a skilled craftsman and a man with a strong work ethic who poured his heart and soul into everything he did - a firm believer that something worth doing was worth doing right. Equipped with a strong faith throughout his life Bob was a man of great character whose legacy is a reflection of a life well lived. The memories he leaves behind will be a lasting treasure for generations to come. The 1930s brought us some of the darkest days our nation has ever seen due to the Great Depression that left countless Americans without work, without homes, and without the hope of reprieve anywhere on the horizon. People found happiness where they could, however, and it was with great joy that a young couple from Ravenna, Michigan, welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on November 18, 1933. Robert Bruce was the oldest of three children born to his parents, James and Helen (Schultz) White, and was raised on the family farm alongside his younger sisters, Nancy and Lily. His father worked as both a teacher and a farmer while his mother focused her attention at home. In many ways Bob experienced a typical upbringing. The farm provided him with a variety of farm chores like feeding the animals and tending to the cows. Bob was raised in the Baptist church and went to church with his family several times a week. By the time he was an adult Bob figured that he had already had enough church to fill an entire lifetime so he didnt regularly attend services anymore, although his faith remained strong. While growing up he played on a baseball league, and he also attended school in Coopersville. After completing the tenth grade Bob left school and began working on the farm full-time until he later found a job at a factory in Muskegon. New and exciting changes were in store for Bob when he met the young girl with whom he would share a lifetime of love. Her name was Billie Simons, and she worked at Masars Restaurant where he was somewhat of a regular. There was an immediate attraction between them, and they soon began dating. With a desire to establish a life together Bob and Billie decided to elope along with Billies brother Dale and his fianc. The four of them traveled to Indiana where they could get married by the justice of the peace. Both couples exchanged their vows in a double wedding ceremony on January 31, 1953, using the money Bob earned from selling a couple of cows. The newlyweds initially settled into the third floor of Bobs parents home. The couple was later delighted to learn that they would become parents. When daughter Darlene was born a few weeks earlier than expected in November, Bob was deer hunting at the family hunting shack in the Porcupine Mountains in the Upper Peninsula. With a growing family they found themselves in need of their own place, so they purchased Billies parents home on Heights-Ravenna Road. They were blessed with four more children as well including Robert, Lori, Tina, and Bill. After a time Bob went to work for Tri-City Paint and Glass. Family time was important to the Whites. They loved camping together in tents during the earlier days, which later gave way to a pop-up camper and eventually a trailer. Bob even converted an old bread truck into a camper that they used for a few years. The kids loved these trips to the most beautiful places like Lake Leelanau, Burt Lake, and Tubbs Lake. In addition to spending time with his family, Bobs life was enriched in other ways as well. They had a great group of neighbors with whom they frequently got together. For a time Bob had an old school bus that he used to pick up the neighbors and head up north on a road trip for dinner and good time. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. Bob took regular hunting trips to the shack in the Upper Peninsula in addition to annual fishing trips across the bridge to go smelt dipping in April. During the late 1960s Bob was in an accident when a train hit the Glass Company truck he was riding in, causing a severely injured back. This resulted in five different surgeries over the next few years. The injuries also forced him to leave his job so Bob enrolled in a trade school in Plainwell where he learned to be a carpenter and cabinet maker. Life didnt get any easier for Bob either as while he was in school a fire destroyed the family home. Along with friends and help from his classmates Bob had a new home built on the same lot. After completing his education he worked as a self employed carpenter and cabinet maker. Bob made fantastic cabinets and cupboards and was a stickler for detail. He worked as long as he was physically able. Later in life Bob continued to fully embrace the days he was given. He was overjoyed to become a grandfather, and he was a regular at his grandchildrens school and sporting events. During Bobs retirement years he could often be found riding in his lawn tractor down to Mabritos Garage where he loved solving all the problems of the world with the Mabrito brothers. He also enjoyed heading to the auto auctions with the Mabritos. Bob and Billie did some traveling including a memorable trip to the Seattle area to visit her family in addition to trips to the Upper Peninsula to visit his cousin, Martin. At home he loved watching the birds at his many bird feeders, and he was able to name the many feathered friends that were regular visitors. Of course there was also the never-ending battle with the pesky squirrels! Bob was an avid fan of the Tigers and the Lions, and he always had a jigsaw puzzle out on the table. Through the life he lived each day Robert White taught us that it is of little value to pursue building great wealth or accumulating possessions, but that our true reward is found in building relationships with those around us. We will miss his unwavering strength, his timeless wisdom, and his unconditional love. Robert B. White died Thursday, September 13, 2012. Bobs family includes his wife, Billie; sons, Robert (Amy) White and Bill White, both of Fruitport; daughters, Darlene (Richard) Alviar, Lori (Grant) Hudson, both of Muskegon, Tina (Dave) Wagner of Fruitport; 12 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; sisters, Nancy Dudek; Lily Glover, both of Muskegon; special uncle & aunt, Bernard (Marge) Schultz. Services will be held on Monday, September 17, 2012, 12:00 Noon at the Clock Chapel - Muskegon with Pastor Joseph Vest officiating. Interment at Ravenna Cemetery. Visit with Bobs family and friends on Monday, 1 hour prior to the service at Clock Life Story Funeral Home - Muskegon. Memorials can be made to Harbor Hospice Poppen House. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to leave a memory.