Rodney Ray White

Rodney Ray White, 89, of Longville died on Wednesday, January 25, 2012 in a local care facility.

Life for Rodney began on August 31, 1922 in Tyronza, Arkansas. He was one of seven children born to Claude Earl White and Maxie Estes White. The family was a farming family and life was not easy for them. In the late 1930's the family moved to Louisiana to farm Whitehall Plantation and later Anchor Plantation. Rodney finished high school in Vidalia, LA, married, and went to war in World War II serving as a radio operator in the Army air corps and a physical training instructor.

Rodney is the father of two daughters, Pat Junkin and her husband Dick of Natchez, MS and Jackey South and her husband Robin Semple of Longville, LA; and three sons, Tim White and his wife Rachel of Cordell, OK, Randy White and his wife Robin of Prairie Grove, AR and Rusty White of Carrollton, TX. He has fourteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews whom he loved. Rodney's brother Paul White and wife Mary Lou reside in Monroe, LA.

Rodney had a gift for athletics, for making friends, and a greater gift for gab. He put the latter to work and became a talented salesman selling first chicken houses in north Arkansas, then heavy International Harvester equipment in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, and most recently selling trucks for Atterberry Trucks in Lake Charles. He retired in 1997, but a good salesman never really stops selling.

He was widowed in 2000 by his beloved wife Dixie Wickersham White. They were residents of Longville, La for 22 years and attended Longville Baptist Church. He was also preceded in death by his two brothers, Claude Earl White, Jr. and Dick Estes White; and three sisters, Wanda White, Rosemary Schriber, and Betty Sue Shumway.

The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of The Guardian House for their excellent care given to Mr. White.

The funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at Longville Baptist Church. The Rev. Stewart Graves and Rev. Johnny Johnson will officiate. Burial will follow in Hopewell Cemetery in Deridder under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM in the funeral home and will continue on Saturday from 10:00 AM until the start of the service in the church.