Ralph Eddie White

Just shy of his 80th birthday, Ed passed. My NorthStar, my rock, my home, my soul mate is gone and I know he is in a better place with no pain and suffering. Ed was born on February 23, 1946 in Farmington, NM. His given name was Ralph Eddie White. He was the son of Earl White and Doris Bullock White. After his birth, his family and grandparents moved to Western Colorado. His Dad was a spud farmer and his Mom took care of the house. During those early years, they lived in Ekert, on Rogers Mesa, Lazare, Cedaredge, Delta and Olathe where his grandfather owned Bullocks Hardware. When Ed was in the third grade his Mom and Dad bought the Redlands Store in Grand Junction, Colorado. He attended the Redland Primary School, Orchard Mesa Junior High and then graduated from Grand Junction High School in 1964. Ed lettered in baseball his senior year. His senior year he joined the Colorado National Guard in Grand Junction and after graduation went to basic training. He served with the Guard until 1969. He attained the rank of 2nd Lt and was in the artillery unit. Upon his return he attended what was then Mesa Junior College in Grand Junction. His group of friends from grade school: Tom Gummere, Claron McDaniel, Jim Clark and Ron Hawkins stayed friends until some of them passed. You could always tell how long someone had known Ed, as those from the GJ days always called him Eddie. Those in the later half of his life called him Ed.

When he was a senior in high school, he was at the downtown Grand Junction Library and saw this young girl. He asked the person he was with, "Who is that girl?" The friend responded, "That is Jerry Land." He knew when he saw her that they were destined to be together. Unknown to him, Jerry used to peruse her older sister's high school annuals and she remembered the names of guys she thought were cute and Ed was one of those guys. In the summer of 1965, they were both on Glade Park at the Pot Holes with other people and began talking. That was the beginning of a relationship that has lasted from that day to present time. Jerry and Ed married at the Redlands Community Church on August 31, 1967. In 1968, they had their beloved children, son Sean in Grand Junction and in 1970, their daughter Shannon was born in Dickinson, ND.

He began a career with the FW Woolworth company in the winter of 1968. He worked for Woolworth's and he and Jerry moved from Grand Junction, to Colorado Springs, to Dickinson, ND, Minot, ND, Denver and then to Alamosa. He left Woolworth's in 1977. He then worked for the then very new concept of HMOs at the San Luis Valley HMO. In 1978, they moved back to Grand Junction where Ed worked for his brother, George, at Arrow Glass Company, until 1984.

He then went to work for Oldach Wood Windows out of Colorado Springs. In the summer of 1985, it was decided to start an Oldach plant in Albuquerque, NM. When Oldach sold in the spring of 1987, Ed went to work with Hap Crawford and Cindy Mauchly at Santa Fe Door Store Inc. He became a partner with Cindy and then in 2003, Ed bought Cindy's shares of Santa Fe Door and moved to location on South 2nd Street, Albuquerque. Jerry joined the company in 2008. They worked together thru the economic downturn and then thru Co-Vid. They sold the company on September 30, 2021 and retired. They additionally owned Enterprise Americas Inc. which was also sold at the same time.

During their marriage, Ed and Jerry traveled overseas many times to see her English family, The Maxim's, in greater London and Ireland. Their first European trip was in 1993 and their final overseas journey the summer of 2025. Max and Elaine Maxim were their travel companions in both the US and in Europe. Ed was the Godfather to Kristy Maxim, daughter of Mick and Alison Maxim in Clogerhead, Ireland. Jerry's mother, Muriel Land, left Grand Junction and lived with them until the end of her life in December 2019. She and Ed enjoyed a great relationship, and he said he still missed her every day even after 6 years.

Ed and Jerry bought an RV in 2022 and made several trips to the mid-west and to the southeast to see friends. Their last trip was to Puerto Penasco, Senora, Mexico with their neighbors the Pughs' who are like family. Projects and trips at Penasco are treasured memories.

Ed was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019. He and Jerry treated this as a chronic illness. His passing leaves a huge void in his family's life. He was loving, could be stern, was so much fun and loved a good party.

Those who preceded him are both his parents; his brother, George White and wife, Betty; his sister, Jean Fash and husband, Art; and his nephews, Steve and Roland Fash and Dylan Marez. In addition to his wife, son and daughter, he leaves behind grandsons, Aidan and Colin White; and a granddaughter, Poy White. Also, nephews Rick and Randy White (and family) and Rich Fash. His sister-in-law, Maggie Land and niece, Rachel Marez-Kuhn and her family, and Stacie Marez and her girls. Additionally, his niece, Nicole Leech and family and Tim Minter and family.

He and Jerry have life-long friends that have offered comfort and help in the final weeks of his life. Valerie and Darell Wegert, Kathy and Lenny Mahosky as well as their neighbors the Pugh's, Khodaie's, Norman's, Torrez' have enriched Ed's and Jerry's lives. Additionally, the many contractors, clients and designers he worked with at Santa Fe Door that became his friends. From NM, AZ, CO, CA, TX, Fl, Puerto Pensaco, MX, and points in-between, too many people to name but you know who you are and that you meant so much to Ed.

We are grateful for the care and help that the people at Rio Grande Hospice gave Ed in his final days. Ed will be cremated and his ashes will be made into stones by Parting Stones of Santa Fe, NM. Some will travel back to Grand Junction to lay beside the graves of his parents, Jerry's parents and his brother George and his wife Betty. A big party will be planned for a future date to toast and remember the wonderful man that Ed was to his family and friends. Probably listen to some Eagles and Yacht Rock music as this was the soundtrack to Ed and Jerry's life together.

Ed said, “He would see you down the road.”