Kenneth Hugh White, the oldest of Hugh & Louise's chaps, passed away in Memphis, TN, on July 29, 2026. He grew up in Martinsville, Virginia with much of his youth spent between his parents' home and the 14 Cleveland Ave boarding house owned by his grandparents, Homer & Ruth Minter. When he was 9 years old his mother got him a job delivering papers on River Hill and during high school he was a trusted employee of George's Super Market.

Days after he graduated from Mavahi in 1955, and as he was still only 17 years old, his parents signed for him to join the US Marine Corps. Following boot camp at Parris Island, SC, he briefly entered the Navy when he selected for the Naval Aviation Cadet program.  He received his Wings of Gold on his 20th birthday and chose to return to the Corps because "once a Marine, always a Marine."  He was, at that time, the youngest pilot in either Marine or Naval Aviation. The day he graduated from flight school he also decided to buy his first car, a 1957 Ford Fairlane, but he had a bit of a problem because he had never obtained his driver's license. He flew pretty much every aircraft the Corps had to offer and shared many great stories, including flying to Kennebunkport, ME, while in service of President Kennedy, where he bought fresh lobsters to bring back for his unit to enjoy.  He flew helicopters during the Viet Nam War with bravery and great technical skill.

After his honorable discharge from the Corps in 1966, he developed computer programming expertise in the days before personal computers. Though self-taught, he developed one of the early digital take-off systems that allowed lumber yards and supply houses to estimate construction costs. It was used in businesses throughout the US and Canada. He traveled both countries extensively for his business, always by car.

He was often accompanied on business trips by his wife of 64 years, Yetta Delorease Chambers White, who predeceased him last year.  They enjoyed bicycling during their travels, logging hundreds, if not thousands, of miles biking in some of the most beautiful parts of the country.  He was a great cook, a voracious reader, and a lover of movies and classical music until vision and hearing loss he experienced as a result of his military service made enjoying these things nearly impossible in his later years.

In addition to his wife Yetta, he was preceded in death by his son, Paul White, his parents, Hugh White and Louise Minter White, and by his siblings, Francis White and Ruth McBrayer. He is survived by his "girls" Robin (Eben), and Lisa (Jeremy), grandsons Max and Ethan, his brothers Carl White (MaryAnn) and Bob White (Marguerite), many nieces and nephews, and his beloved cats Sassy, Lovey, and Lucy. Per his request no formal service is planned; however, memorials may be made to Humane Society of Memphis and Shelby County (https://memphishumane.org), Mewtopia Cat Rescue (https://www.mewtopiacatrescue.org/), or another charitable organization of your choice