Obituaries

Paul White

Photo of Paul White
Paul Clayton White of Bella Vista, Ark. died on June 27, 2017 following a brief illness and complications related to Parkinson's Disease. He was eighty-eight years old. The second son of Donald and Rachel (Harvey) White, Paul was born April 20, 1929 in Coffeyville, Kan. It is in Coffeyville where he spent his childhood and formative years, including two years at Coffeyville Junior College following graduation from Coffeyville High School in 1947. After completing his studies at Coffeyville Junior College, Paul attended the University of Kansas on a track and field scholarship, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business, majoring in marketing. He would forever remain a staunch supporter of the university and their athletic programs. It was while attending KU that Paul met his future wife, June McClenny (Topeka, Kan., KU Class of '53). They were married February 7, 1953 in Washington, D.C. and lived in Portsmouth, Va. while Paul completed the remainder of his active duty in the United States Navy. Lieutenant Commander White's active and retired reserve naval career spanned decades and included graduation from Officer Candidate School, serving time as a member of the Navy's Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) and as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer. After completing active duty with the Navy, Paul began his professional career in the summer of 1955 working as a commercial trainee for U.S. Steel Corporation in Pittsburg, Pa. Following various job promotions over the next few years, Paul and his growing family relocated several times in the Midwest, eventually settling in the Chicago area. In 1968 Paul left U.S. Steel, but remained in the steel industry, joining Feralloy Corporation. He would work for Feralloy Corporation twenty-four years, retiring in 1992, having held managerial positions in sales, as a divisional vice president/general manager, and as a corporate marketing and purchasing manager/ vice president at the company's world headquarters in Chicago. After retiring and moving with June to Bella Vista in 1992, Paul spent over 10 years working for WalMart at the Bentonville Corporate Fitness Center, primarily at the tennis complex, keeping him close to one of his favorite sports. Paul was preceded in death by June, his wife of sixty-three years, his parents and older brother Donald. He is survived by his three sons and daughters-in-law; Mark and Debbra (Bella Vista/Land O Lakes, Wis.), Dane and Marilyn (Lake Zurich, Ill.), Mitchell and Maria (Frazeyburg, Ohio); granddaughters Samantha (Robert) Conforti (Kenosha, Wis.) and Alexis (Lake Zurich, Ill.). Included also are two great-grandchildren, Savannah and Serafino Conforti and his beloved dog, Piper. A memorial service will be held Friday, August 18th, 10 a.m. at Highlands United Methodist Church in Bella Vista. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Paul's name to (Kansas University) KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, Kan. 66044 or online at www.kuendowment.org/givenow. All donations will be specifically directed to the Kansas Athletics' Williams Education Fund supporting student athletes. Arrangements by Epting Funeral Home of Bella Vista. Condolences: www.eptingfuneralhome.webs.com.

Published July 6, 2017

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