Honoured by their daughters – Brenda Morris, Laura White, Nancy Lamarche and Sherri White.
Bill and Barb White met at a teen town dance in North Bay in 1950.They were married on July 12, 1952.
The son and daughter of Percy and Violet White, and George and Aletha Davies respectively, Bill and Barb went on to raise a family of four daughters; Nancy, Brenda, Laura, and Sherri.
Bill was a true athlete, playing several sports including hockey, baseball, bowling and golf. He was most passionate about hockey which he also coached in the early 1960s on the outdoor rinks of West Ferris. A formidable center man, he played until he was 71, stopping only when his health would no longer permit. His love of the game spilled over to us and of course our children, some of them becoming players themselves! During family visits, we all enjoy hearing Dad’s stories about the early days of hockey in North Bay.
Bill was employed by Cochrane Dunlop Hardware for 33 years in the purchasing department and warehouse on Jet Avenue. He worked alongside three of his brothers (Tom, Cliff and Reg ), his cousin Gord, and many others who became life-long friends.
After leaving Cochrane Dunlop in 1989, Bill discovered a new interest for working with adults with special needs at Community Living’s Country Heritage Workshop. He went on to manage the ceramic “Gifts for You” shop on Main St. E. until he retired in 1992. He immediately went to work full time on his other hobby – his vegetable garden! Bill always tended to it with such care and love, taking pride in the yield of his work each fall and sharing it with his family and friends.
Barb was a devoted stay-at-home mother until all of the girls were full time students. It was then that she began to work, first at the newly opened Lee Jean factory in North Bay; second as a legal assistant to Roger Galipeau and finally as the secretary to the Medical Officer of Health at the North Bay and District Health Unit. Barb managed to balance the care of her home and children with working full time, and she made many friends along the way. It was during Barb’s working years that the family grew to include three son-in-laws, Conrad, Mark, and Dino, as well as eight grandchildren. Each grandchild received hand knit sweaters, bonnets, and booties from Barb. She could knit anything and enjoyed seeing her grandchildren dressed in her handiwork! Barb retired from the Health Unit in 1994 to a life of leisure enjoying her hobbies including baking with her grandchildren whenever possible, flower gardening and helping out her children in countless ways.
Summer holidays with Mom and Dad always involved spending time around water! They both loved to swim and were sure we all developed a great love of spending time on the many lakes around our area. We spent many years camping at Mikisew Campground in South River, as well as cottaging on Lake Nosbonsing and Lake Nipissing.
Bill and Barb are happiest in their home in Graniteville but have also ventured on several holidays to places they never dreamed they would go!
Before retiring they travelled to the East Coast of Canada, Florida, Las Vegas, and Branson, Missouri. Once retired, they took two trips to visit Brenda and her family in Midleton, County Cork, Ireland. While there they travelled to France and England, enjoying many special moments in Paris and London. They were ever so thankful to have been able to visit the gravesite of Bill’s brother Murray who was killed in the Second World War and laid to rest in Beny-Sur-Mer, France.
In October 2010 Barb and Bill became great grandparents for the first time when Sage was born. This marked another very proud moment for both of them!
It is to honour their dedication to family that we purchased this pergola leaf for their 59th wedding anniversary. We are so thankful for the lessons they have taught us and for their never ending love and support.
On July 12, 2012 Bill and Barb celebrated 60 years of marriage with a surprise garden party attended by many friends and family members. After a full afternoon of visiting and being entertained by friends and family members, they enjoyed yet another swim together in the pool!
All of our Love to you both,
Nancy, Brenda, Laura & Sherri
XO, XO, XO, XO