Gary White

Anchorage resident Gary Lee White, 69, died May 7, 2011, at his residence from esophageal cancer.

A memorial service will be Sunday, May 22, 2011, at 2 p.m., at Hope Learning Center, 570 W. 53rd Ave. with Pastor Rick Benjamin officiating.

Gary was born Sept. 9, 1941, in Waukegan, Wis., to the late Frank and June White. He joined the United States Air Force and was a telecommunications systems control superintendent and retired from Elmendorf Air Force Base on Oct. 31, 1979 as a master sergeant. In 1981 to 1984 he managed his own Kirby store in Anchorage. From 1984 to 1997 he worked telecommunications for ATU. In 1994 he endeavored on a new adventure in taking care of two special-needs ladies through HOPE in his home, something he dearly loved to do.

Gary loved doing yard work and learning and playing with computers and programming.

His family states, "Gary was a good husband and father and was very family oriented. He always had a good sense of humor about life and was always telling jokes. He loved working with special needs people of the community."

He was preceded in death by his daughter and son-in-law, Karren and Doug Barce; and his twin brother, Larry.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Lydia White of Anchorage; daughter, Deborah Payne of London, England; son and daughter-in-law, Steven and Niki White of New Hampshire; eight grandchildren, Sara Payne, Adrianne Barce, Cortney Fogarty, Emily Barce, Lydia Barce, Darren Barce, Amanda White and Nick Payne; two great-grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Susan White of Milwaukee, Wis.

Arrangements are entrusted to Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel & Crematory of Anchorage., www.akheritage.com