1922
2017
William Holland White, 94, of Kansas City, MO passed away peacefully on April 28, 2017. Services will be held at White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 NE Antioch Road, Gladstone, MO. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 2 at 10am with funeral services to follow at 11am. Burial will be at Bethel Cemetery, Gravette, AR.
Holland was born December 8, 1922 to John Franklin and Octavia Lee (Holland) White, on the family farm, north of Maysville AR. Sisters, Leda and Leta (twins), Merle, Orpha and Verba Lee were pleased to have a baby brother. Another baby brother, Oliver, was born four years later.
Holland graduated from Gravette High School in 1941 with Mary Fuller (the girl from Kansas City). Holland left for the Navy and Mary returned to Kansas City to find a job, January 1943. Holland served on the USS Sturtevant DE 239 from commissioning in June 1943 until he left her in April 1944 to go to radar school in Chicago. He and Mary were married April 26, 1944 in Kansas City, KS. Holland then served on the USS Springfield CL 66 from commissioning September 1944 until he left this ship in Tsingtao, China November 1945. The Springfield CL 66 had escorted President Roosevelt to Yalta to meet with Churchill and Stalin January 1945, participated in the Okinawa invasion and was the first U.S. Cruiser to anchor in enemy waters following the surrender of Japan.
Holland and Mary made their home in Kansas City, MO. He graduated from Finlay Engineering College in 1949. Retired from Armco Steel as a Sr. Mechanical Engineer in January 1984. They moved to the Northland with their baby son, John Charles, in 1952. Holland served as a deacon at Ivanhoe Park Christian Church. He has been an active member of First Christian Church, North Kansas City since 1955. He has served on the church board, chaired committees and supported outreach causes. He was a member of the Kansas City Banjo Band, playing for nursing homes and groups as a volunteer from 1972-2014.
Holland was preceded in death by his parents and his six siblings. He is survived by his wife of 73 years, Mary; son, John Charles, his wife, Maryanna; Valeria White, John’s former wife and mother of Holland’s three grandsons, Nathan William, Charles Eugene and Johnathan Holland; great grandsons, Gabriel Eugene and Holland Ryker; brothers-in-law, Raymond Fuller (Nancy) and Eugene Fuller (Laurie); and sisters-in-law, Betty (Wayne) Butts, Barbara (Wesley) Robinson and Lynn Fuller. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews and long-time friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests gifts be made to First Christian Church, 2018 Gentry, North Kansas City, MO, 64116 in his memory.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by White Chapel Funeral Home.
2 Entries
May 9, 2017
Allison Ross
My heart is with Mary and all who loved Holland. There are no words to express my condolences as you go through this difficult time.
May 5, 2017
Youtsey
We have always looked up the fine example that Holland and Mary have provided for FCC-NKC. They have unintentionally mentored many couples over the years. Lots of Love is being sent to the family. Love~ The Youtseys
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