Leon White Obituary
Leon was a proud United States Marine Corps veteran, having served his country for five years. He was known for his deep love for his family, his contagious laughter, and his warm spirit. Leon truly made a friend out of everyone he met.
He worked for the Veterans Affairs (VA) for many years and retired in 2019 from the Bath, NY campus.
Leon is survived by his beloved wife, Dawn White; his three sons, Maurice Sanders, Leon White Jr., and Angel White, all of New York, NY; and his stepchildren, Jessica Adams, Sara (Jeremy) Whitty, Shawna Adams, and Brian Adams, all of Corning, NY.
He was a proud grandfather to Michaiah, Sammy, Jazlynn, Armani, Jeremiah, Josinay, and Journey, and a cherished great-grandfather to Zhavia and Leilani.
Leon is also survived by his siblings: Cynthia (Harold) Neckles of Mobile, AL; Brenda (Latif) Anderson, Michele (Harry) Robinson, and Labaron (Barbara) White Sr., all of New York, NY; his aunt, Mary Liddle of Mobile, AL, who is 103 years old; as well as many loving nieces and nephews. He will also be deeply missed by his beloved dog Luna and his cats Cali and Smokey.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at Phillips Funeral Home in Corning, NY. Viewing hours will be from 2:00–3:00 PM, followed by a service from 3:00–4:00 PM. Friends and family are warmly invited to gather for a repass dinner at the Marconi Lodge in Corning beginning at 4:00 PM.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
3 Entries
Erica Hill
February 1, 2026
My dear, sweet Uncle Butch ...oh how I´m going to miss you.
I was truly ecstatic when I found you and reconnected with you on Facebook a couple of years ago. From there came our frequent phone calls and video chats, and through those conversations I finally got to know the man my mother spoke about so lovingly all my life. Being able to connect with you and experience firsthand the warmth, kindness, and love she always described meant more to me than you could ever know.
I cherished your words of wisdom, hearing about the movies you loved to watch, your passion for current events, and your stories from your time in the military. Every conversation left me smiling, thinking, and feeling closer to you.
You were so deeply loved, and you will be so deeply missed. Your presence, your stories, and your spirit will live on in all of us who were blessed enough to know you.
Love your niece,
Erica
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C. Mosley
January 31, 2026
Uncle Butch,
I will miss the phone calls, and video calls and the conversations of rediscovering family members, and the oh so crazy situations we decided to laugh about rather than cry about. Your determination and resilience was an inspiration to all of us. Your comeback was greater than any setback. I feel blessed that you took time to share your journey with me. I will forever cherish how you blessed my daughter. Your love for family, for Dawn, and the children is undeniable. You were selfless - a Marine to the end.
You will be missed, but never forgotten.
Casaundra (Nookie)
David Webb
January 30, 2026
Gonna miss ya Leon, we had some great times at the bath VA. Rest in peace, see you soon.
Your friend,
David Webb
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