Lawrence E. White

Lawrence Edward "Sonny" White Jr. 76 of Opdyke, Illinois passed away at 11:30 pm on Saturday January 10, 2026 at John Cochran VA Hospital in Saint Louis, Missouri. He was born December 8, 1949 in Ashtabula, Ohio to the late Lawrence E. and Katherine M. (Sandella) White Sr. Sonny married JoDell (Smitha) White and she preceded him in death.

Sonny proudly served his country in the United States Army with the 101st. Airborne in Vietnam from 1970-1972. He completed basic training in Fort Knox, Kentucky. Sonny lived in Opdyke, Illinois for 35 years. He worked for Rockwell International for 40 plus years and retired in Centralia. Sonny is survived by his daughter Tracy Lynn (White) Belford and husband James C. of Orient Illinois, granddaughter Ava Marie Belford of Orient, Illinois, sisters Bonnie (Walker) Lowitz of Niceville, Florida and Barbara (White) Newberry and husband Garry of Virginia Beach, Virginia, brother William White and wife Joyce of Shepherdsville, Kentucky, cousin Mary Alfred of Louisville Kentucky, sister in law Sue (Smitha) Rosales of Sevierville, Tennessee, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. In addition to his parents and beloved wife, Sonny was preceded in death by six children due to stillborn and miscarriage, parents in law, Gerald Alonzo and Vernice K. (Fogleman) Smitha, sister in law Mary (Smitha) Jaynes and husband John, sister in law Garnet Darlene (Smitha) Stuck, brother in law Art Rosales, nephew Shane M. Newberry, and cousin Jim Alfred.

Sonny was proud to be an Italian American. He was of the Southern Baptist faith. He enjoyed watching Cleveland Browns football and Cleveland Indians baseball. Sonny had many other hobbies including: hunting, fishing, golfing, bowling, welding, gardening, cooking, playing solitaire, riding his Harley, trail rides with his horse Summer, driving his mustang, watching GunSmoke, and talking with his best friend Bill Hutchinson. Most of all, Sonny enjoyed watching his son in law Jimmy play drums in his country band and granddaughter Ava play drums in high school and community band. He loved going on family vacations and rocking in his favorite rocking chair. Sonny will be forever missed and loved, especially by his only granddaughter Ava Marie, who called him Grandpa Gee.

Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2026 at Hughey Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Full Military Rites will be conducted by American Legion Post #141 after the conclusion of the service at the funeral home.

Call Hughey Funeral Home at 618-242-3348 or visit hugheyfh.com for further information.