Billy J. White

Captain Billy J. “Bill� White, U.S. Navy retired, age 88, and active member of Thalia United Methodist Church during the past 45 years, died October 24, 2018. He was the son of the late Ola and Lorena White and was preceded in death by two sisters, Millie Hayhurst, and Madeline Kight. Survivors include his wife, Frances and loving companion for the past 65 years; daughter Brenda and son Stephen and his wife Carol. Two granddaughters, Catherine White and Elizabeth Phelps (Kyle), three sisters, Dorothy Howard, Gwen Ritchie and Judith McGrath (Richard), and a special friend Ann Wilkinson. Captain White was a veteran of the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. He enlisted as a Seaman Recruit in 1948, advanced to Chief Petty Officer and was commissioned Ensign as an unrestricted line officer in 1955. He served on six major staffs and nine ships. He was Commanding officer of USS NIPMUC ATF-157, USS BRISTER DER-327, USS KEITH DD775 and USS ELLISON DD-864. He was awarded a BS degree by the Navy Postgraduate School and a MS degree by George Washington University. Following his retirement from the Navy in 1979, he was employed by Vitro Corporation, a system engineering and software Company, as a senior system engineer and the Hampton Roads Department Head. He retired from Vitro in 1992 and remained active in community service. At various times, he served Thalia United Methodist Church as a Council Member, Finance Committee Member, Finance Stewart Chairman, Auditor and Usher for many years. He was a board member of the Kempsville Greens Civic League and Coordinator of Kempsville Neighborhood Watch. He was past member and President of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern Virginia, past volunteer for twenty- two years at the Navy Retired Activities Office and past board member of the Larksburg Civic League, Atlantic Fleet Credit Union and the Bank @LANTEC. The family will receive friends at H.D. Oliver Funeral Apts., Sunday from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. A memorial service will be held at Thalia United Methodist Church, 4321 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA on Monday October 29, 2018 at 3:00 PM. Interment will be private. Memorial contributions may be made to the Thalia United Methodist Church, American heart Fund, or the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be made to the family at hdoliver.com.