Robert Joseph White

Robert Joseph White, 85, of Ocoee, Tennessee went to his Heavenly Home on the 23rd of August, 2023.

Bob was born on January 13th, 1938 to Eugene & Thelma White in Watauga, Tennessee.  When his family moved to Cleveland, their neighbor, Mrs. Hale, invited a 14 year old Bob to go with her to First Baptist Church.  It was there he gave his life to Christ.  After Bob graduated from Bradley Central High School in 1957, he went on scholarship to play football at Northwest Mississippi Jr College in Senatobia, Mississippi.

In 1959, Bob met Janice (Kinser) and they married in 1960 at Smyrna Baptist Church. Later they celebrated the births of their three children, Robin LeAnna, Julie Melissa, and Robert Joseph, Jr. (deceased).

Bob devoted 32 years of service in engineering to the US Forest Service. After retiring, the majority of his days were spent traveling, hunting, gardening, and spending time with Janice and his family.

As a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, Bob’s primary goal-aside from serving as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and music leader for Shiloh Baptist Church-was to share the Gospel with everyone he met, and see more people come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

Bob was preceded in death by his father and mother Eugene and Thelma White; his son Robert Jr.; and his sister, Betty White Morton. 

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Janice (Kinser) White; his sisters, Linda Haulk (Ray), Sally Bergen (Bruce), Becky Harris; his brother-in-law, Dr. Jack Morton; his daughters, Robin Locke (Jimmy) and Julie Kyker (Charles); his grandchildren MaryGrace Kyker, Rachel Hindman (Adam), Ashley Beth Vital-Herne, Molly Ann  Overly (Paul), Emma Roberts (Mitchell), Joseph Kyker, and Bryson Locke (Mary); and his thirteen great-grandchildren, Alice, Joanna, Meda, Peter, Gwyneth, Naomi, Hadassah, Sabian, Rhema, Tripp, DJ, Worth, and Lake. Numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews also survive. He was a spiritual father, also, to many young men he mentored over the decades.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Shiloh Baptist Church in Ocoee, on August 27th, at 5:00 p.m. with Rev. Andy Sibley, Mr. Jimmy Locke, Rev. Kinzel Hooker, and Dr. Charles Kyker officiating. The family will receive visitors from 3:00 p.m to 500 p.m, at the church, just prior to the service. A private graveside burial will be held on Monday. 

A memorial service for Bob will also be held at Christ Church, Zion Church Road, in Hickory, NC, on Friday September 1st at 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Shiloh Baptist Church of Ocoee, Tennessee.

Ralph Buckner Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.