A graduate of Pasadena High School, class of 1943, Ralph W. White passed peacefully on February 11, 2024, at age 97, survived by two children, three grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. A long life, well-lived and well-loved, his multiple careers began with finishing concrete for his father’s construction company in the 40s, to flying reconnaissance for the US Air Force in the 50s-70s, to engineering systems at Ford Aerospace in the 80s, to teaching solar engineering and math at Colorado Technical College in the 90s, to raising horses and gardens in Nebraska in the 2000s.
After service in the Korean War, his military career continued as a pilot with tours of duty on aircraft carriers off the coast of Cherry Point, North Carolina, to Yokota Air Force Base in Japan, followed by assignments at Shaw AFB with Tactical Air Command and Malmstrom AFB with Strategic Air Command. He remained on active flying status and earned his Command Pilot Wings. Then, he served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, followed by promotions to Base Commander at Vandenburg AFB and Thule Greenland Air Base. His military career ended as systems engineer at NORAD Cheyenne Mountain.
Retired at the rank of Colonel and after a successful teaching career, he pursued his love for the cowboy life to raise horses on a ranch in Nebraska for ten years. Finally, with a move back to Texas, he resided in San Antonio at the Meadows where he took dance and banjo lessons, wrote poems, plays, and lyrics for performance, attended Bible Study, and served as President of the Resident Council.
In his last year, he lived at WellPoint Residence in Alabama. There he enjoyed visits from his family highlighted by his darling great-granddaughter. To his delight, she called him “Grand Daddy Daddy.”
