Joseph Gatlin White, Jr.

Staunton - Joseph Gatlin White, Jr. died August 10, 2019 at the age of 56. He was born on January 19, 1963 to Joseph, Sr. and Goldie, and grew up in his parents' store in Bertie County, NC. He attended ECU, majoring in math with a minor in drama.

Following several years in radio, he moved to London where he covered sports for the Associated Press. He moved to Northern Virginia, becoming known for his unique coverage of local sports, the Olympics, and events like the Spelling Bee. He was loved and respected by colleagues who referred to his "quirky and genial demeanor" with a strong curiosity of life, and described him as "a storyteller on a professional and personal level." He was AP's Sportswriter of the Year in 2005.

In 2015, he pursued a new dream, leaving the AP to purchase Cranberry's Grocery & Eatery in Staunton. He quickly became a champion of all things downtown, embracing community life and the arts. He contributed to many local cultural events and was proud of the many new activities that his creativity brought to the community.

He was an avid hiker, camper, and cyclist. He was assistant scoutmaster for his Boy Scout troop, led several camping trips to Switzerland, and hiked 1400 miles on the Appalachian Trail this summer. Joe was also an astronomy enthusiast who loved sharing his passion for the night skies with others.

He is survived by his son Harry; his sister Pam Kachmer and her husband Michael; his brother H.B. Moye; his brother Allan Moye and his wife Peggy, daughter Lauren, and son Hunter; and by many, many friends. In lieu of flowers, donations to the American Shakespeare Center or the Appalachian Trail Conservancy would be appreciated.

A Celebration of Joe's Life will be held on October 12 in Staunton, VA at the Sunspots Pavilion Stage (202 S. Lewis St.) at 6:30 PM.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News Leader from Oct. 7 to Oct. 10, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Joseph White

4 Entries

John Jones

June 25, 2020

I will always remember Joseph for our shared wicked sense of humor during high school....and our mutual love of astronomy. May Antares never fall from the sky my friend!!

Carolyn Dull

October 1, 2019

We will miss him so much in our little city that he had come to love.

Bruce Reddick

October 1, 2019

1985_APR- Went with Joseph White to see the movie The Empire Strikes Back in Greenville.
1985_SEP-Sent a cassette tape "letter" to Joseph G. White in Switzerland.
1988_FEB-Joseph White now works as my replacement at WIAM---ironically
the same thing occurred years ago at WDJB.
1988_NOV-Joseph White bought our canoe and took it back to his apartment in Plymouth.
1989_JUL Went canoeing down Gardner's Creek with Joseph White in the canoe we sold him.
1994_JUL Completed our first intercontinental trip, visiting with Harry and Joseph in England.
1998_Jul Met Joseph and Harry at Manteo Christmas Shop...we all had bicycles
rode the local bike trails to downtown area where we ate lunch. We also went to the local Aquarium.
2006_DEC Christmas Eve service at Saint Thomas Church in Windsor...we surprised Joseph and Harry White who were there also
gave Harry my shortwave radio.
2010_AUG Herndon Virginia...managed to get up with Joseph by calling back to NC getting his business number off one of his calling cards that I left at a restaurant in Windsor...met for a meal...jumped in their hybrid car and toured...first visit to their house of ten years...we meet Oscar the cat...held their extensive collection of Peanuts Cartoons and viewed a family video of a Charlie Brown theme party.
2011-THANKSGIVING Joseph and Harry White stop by to visit...shared memories & pictures...Joseph brought us a pumpkin pie he made using apple butter...he
Joseph was quite taken by our writings over the years about Harry and Joseph...we treated the Whites to a movie and snacks in Washington NC
Joseph wanted us to see the latest Muppet movie...after the movie we did a group hug out in front of the theater
2013-OCT-23 Joseph for lunch...we ate at Bunns BBQ in Windsor...I gave him a Peanuts book [C. Shultz] from my Moms home
he showed me a Peanuts lunch box that he recovered from his Moms attic [how ironic]
the waitress took a picture of us at the table and he '"Tweeted'' it.

2016-April The Storefront Hotel, 14 S New St, Staunton...almost across from Cranberry's Grocery & Eatery...this is the business that our friend Joseph White has invested in...we walked over and met him there...the first evening began with him walking us around downtown taking in some of the local interest...we were able to enjoy the ice cream shop he likes to go to...we also got a chance to go by his home and met Orion the cat and see his large collection of personal items he is still holding on to after all theses years...he still has the canoe that we sold him 27-years ago
ate several times at Cranberry`s.