Robert L. White

On Sunday, July 20th, 2025, we lost our Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather, Robert Lee White, due to pulmonary and cardio complications.

Bob White was born in Lynch, Kentucky, on September 21st, 1939, to his parents, Avery Lee White and Mary Alice Cain White.

Bob’s family moved several places due to his father’s career paths, Avery White worked in the coal mines in Lynchburg, Kentucky, for 25 years, the Atomic plant in Oakridge, Tennessee, for 3 years, a Banana Brokerage business in Atlanta, Georgia for 3 years, the Packard Automobile Company, in Detroit, Michigan for 3 years, and finally settling near Aberdeen, Maryland where Bob’s parents spent the remainder of their lives together. Bob was the youngest of seven children, who included Louis, Marie, Bettye, Billie, Don, and Geraldine, who all passed before him.

He attended and graduated from Aberdeen High School, where he played football as an offensive and defensive end, a sport that he enjoyed and was his Team’s Captain in his Senior year. Bob graduated from Aberdeen High School in 1959.

Bob enlisted in the United States Air Force in December of 1959 and was sent to Biloxi, Mississippi, for a training school to learn to be a Radar Technician. He was then sent to St. Johnsbury, Vermont, where he was stationed for 3 years. Bob left the Air Force in July of 1963 but remained in the Air Force Reserves until December of 1965. He worked on a “pipeline” that extended from Baltimore to Belaire, Maryland. Bob’s life took him to Wyoming, where he worked for the Husky Refinery for 3 years. His military career would once again become a major portion of his life when he joined the Wyoming Air National Guard 53rd Maintenance Squadron in April of 1972, where his occupational specialty was Avionics Inertial Navigation Systems as a Naval Systems Technician. Bob merely referred to himself as a “radar technician” on the Wyoming Air Guard C-130s. When asked about his Wyoming Air National Guard service, he would say, “that it gave him a chance to see the world,” with numerous countries visited and the usual deployment every summer to fight the widespread wildland fires throughout the United States. He completed the Senior NCO Academy and Leadership School, procuring the rank of Master Sergeant. Bob was awarded the Air Force Training Ribbon, Small Arms Excellence Rifle Ribbon, ADF Reserve Medal, ARF Meritorious Service Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, Defense Service Medal, the Wyoming Service Ribbon – 30-year award, along with several other military commendations. He was honorably discharged on October 8th, 1997, after over 31 years of military service to his Country and the State of Wyoming

During his time in the Air National Guard, he married his wife of 49 years, Beverly Gurney White, on February 12th, 1976, and they shared a career in the Wyoming Air National Guard until they both retired. They built a home near Hillsdale, Wyoming, and have resided there for almost 43 years. Once retired, his focus shifted to his family and his 40 acres, working on the property, and his home became a priority for him. Bob also began to adopt that western flair and began roping, raising chickens, driving a skid steer, etc., adopting the Wyoming rural culture. One of the last stories he shared with a smile was that at one time, he even rode a “cow buffalo”.

Bob is survived by his wife, Beverly, his daughters, Amber White and Robin Kelly, his Grandchildren, Kaitlyn White, Kolby Shoopman, Baylee Shoopman, Taylor Shoopman, and Dillon Kelly, and his brothers-in-law, John (Laurie) Gurney, Frank (Hesta) Gurney, Robert (deceased) (Martha) Gurney and his sisters-in-law, Frances Forrester and Claudia (Steve) Waldock(deceased). Bob was also preceded in death by his former wife, Charlene Armey White, and is survived by their daughter, Heather (Donnie) Heiduck and their son, Jared White (deceased); Grandchildren, Ashley (Jeremiah) Thompson, Thomas Wolf, Sean O’Connor, Jared (Chelsey) White, Bethanie (Michael) Hartzell, Trenda (Carson) Stucki, Trinity (Zachary) Simmons, and Christian White; Great Grandchildren Nehemiah and Josiah Thompson, Cylas White, Aria, Ryleigh, and Curtis Hartzell, Karson, Stedson, Skylee, Thayne, and Thomas Stucki, Avianna, Octavian, and Zayde Simmons.

There will be a viewing at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel for all family and friends on Wednesday, July 30th, 2025, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The funeral services will then be held on Thursday, July 31st, 2025, at 11:30 am, at the Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel, and with his final military ceremony to be held at the Cheyenne Veterans Affairs National Cemetery located at 8611 Hildreth Road beginning at 1:00 pm, where all of Robert's grandchildren and great grandchildren will serve as pallbearers. Everyone is welcome to attend both of these events.

Robert Lee White was a man of many experiences—each one shaping the unique and unforgettable person we all came to know and love. If you have ever spent time with Bob, you know that his greatest “gift” to those around him was his stories. He didn’t just live life—he shared it, and he never minded taking the time to talk, to reflect, and to pull you into one of his many adventures. All you had to do was listen. Bob was a man of strong beliefs and unwavering principles, forged by a lifetime of meaningful—and often challenging—experiences. Whether you always agreed with him or not, you couldn’t help but respect the path he walked and the values that grew from it.

His military service stayed with him in quiet, powerful ways. You’d rarely find him unshaven, or anything less than neatly dressed. That discipline and pride were constant in his life. But to those who knew him well, there was more—so much more. Bob had a deep love for nature, especially his garden and trees. Flowers brought him peace and joy. His favorite? Gladiolas—tall, strong, and beautiful, just like the man himself. His yard was a reflection of his spirit: grounded, steady, and full of life. Family holidays were a beloved tradition—gatherings that became the foundation for so many of our favorite memories. His laughter, when it came, was something special. It was contagious, mostly because we knew it took something truly meaningful to bring it out. And when it did… it was pure joy. There was always an ornery twinkle in his eye, and that faint smile that said more than words ever could. If you caught it—really saw it—you knew you’d been let in on something special. That was one of Bob’s final gifts to us all: a quiet, knowing spark that will live on in our hearts.

Today, as we honor Robert Lee White, we remember a man who lived with purpose, who shared his life openly, and who leaves behind a legacy written not just in stories, but in the love, respect, and memories he gave each of us. His presence will be missed—but never forgotten.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, our family is asking that in memory of Bob’s love of animals, please make donations in his name to our community’s “Cheyenne Animal Shelter”.

The family would like to extend our heartfelt appreciation to the First Responders of the Burns Wyoming Fire Department, the AMR Response Team, our special friends Cindy Osborne and Sean Horton, who gave us advice and support before the hospital, the CMRC ER Staff, all the Medical Clinicians, Physicians, Nurses, CNA’s, and all Staff Members of the 6th Floor Telemetry Unit and the Palliative Care Team who filled this 10-day journey with kindness, dignity, and compassion for both him and his family members, the CRMC Chaplain Corp, and last, but not least, the CRMC Veterans’ Salute as his United States flagged draped gurney was wheeled from his room by the Wiederspahn Staff through the halls with CRMC Staff saluting him was extremely touching and will be lasting memory for all of our family. Also, our thanks to the Wiederspahn Staff and especially our Funeral Coordinator, Misty Moberg, who has made this difficult passage as gentle as it possibly could be. Lastly, our heartfelt thanks to all our extended family and friends, who have been an unwavering basis of support, kindness, and compassion during this part of our journey with “Robert Lee White”.