Robert Arthur WHITE

WHITE, BROWN, SMITH, BURNETT, HUBBELL, SWANSON, POTTER, MONROE, HINTON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 5/6/2012 at 11:40:56

May 23, 1924 --- May 4, 2012

Funeral for retired Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Arthur White, 87, Lawton, will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Al Potts, pastor, officiating. Command Sgt. Maj. White died Friday, May 4, 2012, in a Lawton hospital. Burial with full military honors will be in Highland Cemetery under direction of Becker Funeral Home & Cremation Service.

He was born May 23, 1924, in Clarion, Iowa, to Frank and Margaret Brown White. He grew up in Iowa and moved to Moline, Ill., when he was 13 years old. He married Sybil Smith on March 15, 1946, in Atlanta, Ga. He served in the Army from Nov. 18, 1942, until his retirement April 30, 1975. He was a veteran of World War II, Korea and Vietnam. His decorations and awards include the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star for valor with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart with one bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation for Valor with four bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Good Conduct Medal with one silver knot, American Campaign, Europe Africa Middle East Campaign Ribbon with three bronze stars, World War II Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal Germany and Japan, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service with one bronze star, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one silver star and three bronze stars, Vietnam Gallantry Cross with bronze palm, Vietnam Staff Service Medal second class, United Nations Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 device, Republic of Korea War Service Commemorative Medal, Europe Africa Middle East Campaign Commemorative Medal, World War II Victory Commemorative Medal, Vietnam Service Commemorative Medal, Cold War Victory Commemorative Medal and the Combat Service Commemorative Medal. He received the following unit citations: Army Presidential Unit Citation, Army Meritorious Unit Citation, Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry with Palm. He was awarded the Honorable Discharge Pin and the United States Army Retired Pin as well as the Combat Infantry Badge 2nd Award, Combat Artillery Badge, Parachutist Badge, Expert Badge Rifle M-1, M-14, Carbine, M-60 and Flame Thrower, the Sharpshooter Badge Submachine Gun, Machine Gun, Automatic Rifle and Rifle Grenade as well as the Marksman Badge for Pistol, Bayonet, Grenade, Rocket Launcher and Mortar.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church and was also active in a number of veteran's organizations, including the Vietnam Veterans of America, the Purple Heart Association and was a life member of the VFW. He was particularly fond of fishing with his son.

Survivors include his wife, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law: Daniel and Mary White, Lawton; a daughter, Bonnie White Burnett and former son-in-law, Glen, Grand Prairie, Texas; five grandchildren: Deborah, Priscilla and her husband Orlando, Kenny, Adrian and Tammie and her husband Brian; seven great-grandchildren: Brooklyn, Lindsey, Morgan, Peyton, Dylan, Preston and Aiden; eight brothers and sisters: Helen Hubbell, Eileen Swanson, Ruby Potter, Jim White, John Monroe, Lee Monroe, Marilyn Hinton and Evelyn Monroe; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret; and a brother, Clinton.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Lawton Fort Sill Veterans Center, 501 SE Flower Mound Road, Lawton OK 73501. Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Lawton Constitution - Lawton, Oklahoma
May 6, 2012