John Warner WHITE

WHITE, John Warner Age 89 of Nashville, died July 12, 2010 at home. He was the son of the late Margaret Warner White and John O. White, and was preceded in death by his first wife, Rose Marie Crain White, and his second wife, Govan Davidson White. John was born at Royal Oaks, the home of his grandparents, Percy and Margaret Lindsley Warner. He attended Montgomery Bell Academy and graduated from St. John's Military Academy in Delafield, WI. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and received a Law degree from the Nashville Y.M.C.A. Night Law School. In 1941, he was the first Nashvillian to sign up for service in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He served for four years during World War II with the 487th Bomb Squadron, 304th Bomb Group, 57th Bomb Wing, Twelfth Air Force, flying fifty missions from North Africa, Sicily and Italy, serving as the Group Lead Bombardier. He completed his service to his country with the rank of Major; and he recently published Tuff Stuff, memoirs of his life in the military. On returning to Nashville, he worked for over 50 years in real estate, initially with Guaranty Mortgage Company and subsequently formed the John W. White Company. He was an expert in many arenas of the real estate industry, including Mortgage Banking, Brokerage and Appraisals. John was known for his quick wit, loyalty to friends, and generosity of spirit. One of his favorite sayings was "Let the good times roll!" and they always did. John was a long time member of First Presbyterian Church, and of the Belle Meade Country Club and the Linville Golf Club in Linville, NC. John is survived by his wife, Dudley Brown White; his children, Margaret White Ratcliff of Alexandria, VA, Elizabeth White McDonald, of St. Louis, MO, John Warner White, Jr. of Memphis, TN and Govan Davidson White and his wife, Barbara Speight White of Nashville. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Hunter McDonald IV and wife Vicki, Dyersburg, TN, John White McDonald, Portland, OR, Garrett Bateman Ratcliff of Edinburgh, Scotland, Margaret Lindsley Ratcliff, Rock Hill, SC and Margaret Lindsley White, Govan Davidson White, Jr. and Richard Warner White of Nashville, and much loved great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Warner McDonald and Lauren Baxter McDonald. He is also survived by his stepsons, Dr. Walter M. Morgan III (Anne) and William Dudley Morgan (Lisa), and their children. The family would especially like to thank Don Tyler, Annie Wood, Oneka House and Karen George for their selfless and loving service to John. Honorary Pallbearers include: F. Clay Bailey, Jr., W. Irvin Berry, Campbell Brown, J. Thomas Crain, Jim Curry, Matt H. Dobson IV, Dr. Roy O. Elam, Jr., Beverly Landstreet III, Richard Norvell, Dr. William H. Oliver, Charles H. Robinson, Richard Dobbs Speight, Sr. and Alan Wright, all of Nashville, William Wade Wood, Charlotte, NC, Hugh Jackson Morgan, Jr., Birmingham, AL, Edwin Wilson of New York City, J. Scott Cramer and Frank E. Driscoll, Winston-Salem, NC, Judge Truman Hobbs, Montgomery, AL and Joseph H. Williams of Charleston, SC. Active Pallbearers include: Hunter McDonald IV, John White McDonald, Garrett Bateman Ratcliff, Govan Davidson White, Jr., Richard Warner White, Charles Houston Morgan, John Carver Morgan, Richard Douglas, Jr. and John Gray Palmer, Jr. Visitation will be at home, 210 Evelyn Avenue, Wednesday, July 14th from 5 -7 p.m., and Thursday, July 15th from 9 -10 a.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 4815 Franklin Pike, with the funeral service at 10 a.m.. A graveside service will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Vanderbilt Eye Institute, 2311 Pierce Avenue, 37232; the Friends of Warner Park, 50 Vaughn Road, 37221; or the charity of one's choice. MARSHALL DONNELLY COMBS, (615) 327-1111.