Richard T. White

Richard Dick Whitey T. White, 59
     PORTLAND -- Richard Dick Whitey T. White, 59, eldest of thirteen children, born Aug. 9, 1946 in
    Jamaica Plain, Mass. to William J. White, MD and Mary (Sowle) White died unexpectedly Jan. 7, 2006.
     He attended Holy Cross Grammar School in So. Portland, and in 1964 graduated from Cheverus High School where he was President of the Senior Class, Captain of the Baseball Team and named Liberace of the Senior Class.
     At the end of his senior year he met his future wife, Roberta (Bobbie) Riopel on a double date for the Dave Astor Show. They dated for five years before marrying in 1969. They were married for 36 years and had two sons, Christopher and Craig.
     In 1968 Dick graduated from Boston College with a BS in Economics. He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1970-1972.
     He worked in sales for the 3M Company in New York City before returning to Maine in 1973. He later worked for Standard Register and Batesville Casket Companies.
     Dick worked in the trucking industry for over twenty years as a sales manager. In December of 1985 he helped open Arkansas Best Freight (ABF) in Portland as their sales manager. For the past four years he has been the Branch Manager for ABF in Portland and the Maritimes in Canada. In 2005 he was the recipient of the President Club Award, a distinction, Dick was most proud to have received.
     Dick was a well-known and versatile athlete. He began his sports career in baseball where he was a star catcher. He played on many All-Star Teams and played for the H.T. Andrews Post. In 1960 while a freshman at Cheverus High School he caught for Dick Joyce when they were the undefeated Telegram League Champions until their record was broken in 2005.
     Dick was a twenty plus year member of the Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth. He was a single-digit player who won the Club Championship; and Seniors Club Championship in 1999. He was a born leader who led many teams to victory. He enjoyed playing golf with his wife, Bobbie, and together they won two Mr. and Mrs. Purpoodock Championships and twice lost by matching cards. Dick was one of the original Rebels at the Club. A fierce competitor and clutch player, he will be missed by his golfing buddies and many friends, especially, Mark Maloney and Brian Dudley.
     Dick played in the 1985 Union Mutual Senior Golf Classic outshooting Billy Casper by one stroke to the roar of his fans. In his golfing career Dick had five hole-in-ones, and in 1982 scored a hole-in-one on the first hole par four at Purpoodock.
    Richard Dick Whitey T. White
    172 State Street, Portland, Maine 04101
    1024 Broadway, South Portland, Maine 04106
    (207) 773-6511 Fax (207) 773-9622
    INDEPENDENTLY OWNED & FAMILY OPERATED
     Dick was a history buff and enjoyed political discussions. While at Cheverus, Dick received numerous awards for debating and elocution. He continued to use this gift throughout his life. Never at a loss for words, he was often asked to be Master of Ceremonies for numerous occasions due to his quick wit and sense of humor.
     In 2002, Dick and Bobbie purchased their retirement home in Florida where they enjoyed taking vacations several times a year.
     He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Saint Patrick's Church in Portland.
     Dick lived life to the fullest! He will be sadly missed by all who knew and loved him. He was one of a kind!
     Besides his beloved wife, Bobbie, he leaves his two sons, Christopher T. White who resides at CASA in Scarborough, and SPC Craig S. White, who is presently on his second tour of duty for the U.S. Army in Iraq. He leaves six sisters, Mary and her husband James Gray of Old Orchard Beach, Joan and her husband Elliot of Venice, Fla., Nancy and her husband Michael Dezelan of Kingston, Mass., Connie and her husband Brent Churchill of Fort Fairfield, Patricia and her husband Bruce Nelson MD, of Cape Elizabeth, and Jeanne and her husband Edward Bogdanovich of South Portland; and three brothers, William and his wife Maryjane of Medway, Mass., Thomas and his wife Alice of Reading, Mass., and Andrew and his wife Debbie of Corona, Cal. He was predeseased by his parents; brothers, Michael and Peter; and sister, Karen.
     In addition he also leaves his mother and father-in-law Geraldine and Roland Riopel of
    Greenacres, Fla.; sister-in-laws, Sharon Godbold of North Andover, Mass., Marcia and her husband, Bert Luis of Boca Raton, Fla., Celeste and her husband
    Edward Morgan of Gaithersburg, MD.; brother-in-law Bradford Riopel of Standish; as well as, twenty-seven nieces and nephews, many cousins and wonderful friends.
     Visiting hours will be 4-8pm Thursday, Jan. 12 at the Conroy-Tully Crawford South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland. A 11:00 a.m. Thursday Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick's Church, 1342 Congress Street, Portland. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, South Portland.
    
    In lieu of flowers donations may be made to CASA,
    P.O. Box 150
     Westbrook, Maine 04098