Joseph Edward White Jr.

As I think about Joe, my remorse at his passing is definitely tempered by a flood of wonderful and poignant memories that reminds me that the point of all this is celebrating his being such an important part of my life more than grieving his departure from it.

Joe was part of a group of lifelong friends I met when I started junior high at Tates Creek. We were a qawky assortment of boys. We'd not only just hit puberty, but puberty hit back. We bonded over Star Trek episodes, computer games, role playing games in the basement, building models, filming horrid ninja zombie movies in my backyard, and frantic study sessions for Doc Madsen's chemistry class.

Joe was present at all those moments, sharing in the laughs and providing those moments that stay with me even now. As a father watching my kids form their own friend groups, I look back at Joe, Steve, Robbie, Kevin, Ian, Becky to explain what true friendship looks like.

I'm not one for reunions, but at some point in the future when the time has come, I look forward to seeing Joe again.

With love, respect, and affection,

John Edwards