William David White

William David White, of Derwood, MD, passed away on Monday, October 14, 2019.  Beloved husband of Catherine White; father of William, James and Andrew White; grandfather of Brenna Lise White; brother of Mary Christine Seaton and the late Jimmy and Richard White. 

Bill was the son of William Eckert and Virginia Florence White of Lansdale, PA. He was a caring brother to Richard and Mary Christine and, from his teens, he was a strong support of his mother following the death at age 13 of his younger brother (Jimmy) and the early death of his father. He was a proud descendant of members of the Schwenkfelder religion – exiles from Silesia  who arrived in Pennsylvania from 1731-1737 (see https://schwenkfelderexilesociety.org/schwenkfelders-in-pennsylvania/ for more information on this group).

Bill attended Lehigh University and was a member of Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity, graduating in 1961 with a degree in Industrial Engineering.  He later completed a masters in Economics from the University of Nevada in Reno.  Bill served in the U.S. Air Force from 1963 to 1967, attaining the rank of Captain. He spent a year in Vietnam directing combat operations at a Radar Forward Air Control Post at Ca Mau for which service he was awarded the Bronze Star. Following his military service, Bill worked in several organizations, including the Brookings Institution, the U.S. Senate, and NASA, finally joining the Intelligence Community Staff, always applying his extensive understanding of the economics of defense and tactical air forces.

From his childhood days, Bill liked to build models – airplanes and ships. While living in an apartment in Washington DC, models were not enough of a challenge and he designed and built (with a little help from his friends) a cabin on a cove off the Patuxent river. He had an amazing intellect, and at the same time, he could build and/or fix almost anything.

Once he became a family man, Bill worked hard to give his sons all the opportunity he could, and he absolutely doted on his granddaughter. After he retired, he spent many happy hours walking the trails in Montgomery County. 

His friends, neighbors, and acquaintances did not need to know all that to recognize a caring person, with a great sense of humor. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Visitation will be at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, 4629 Aspen Hill Road, Rockville, MD 20853 on Tuesday, October 22, 2019 from 10-11am with the Funeral Service at 11am. Interment at Towamencin Schwenkfelder Cemetery, Lansdale, PA, on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at 12:30pm with Military Honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to Montgomery Hospice, www.montgomeryhospice.org.