Robert White

Mr. R. E. "Bob" White passed away at home near Monahans, Texas on Memorial Day, May 25, 2015 at the age of eighty-eight. He was in the 9th grade at Monahans High School when WWII began. In the spring of 1942 at only 15 years of age he hopped a freight train to Big Spring, convinced a recruiter he was eligible to join and entered the US Navy. He tried to enter the Army Air Corp, but the recruiter did not believe him.

During WWII he served aboard the USS Cheleb AK-138 from its commissioning until the end of the war. The USS Cheleb participated in several campaigns including the invasions at Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Marrians, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and Task Force 99 for the final invasion of Japan. The USS Cheleb was awarded the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal (with Asia clasp) and the Philippines Liberation Medal. R.E. began as a seaman and was rated as a Radioman 3rd class. He returned to Monahans in 1946, married Katheryn "Kat" Lewis and raised a large family and worked in the oilfield. R.E. retired from Forest Oil Company in 1986.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Katheryn, his mother Willie Wade White, his brothers Cecil Ray and George, and one grandson, William White. He is survived by his daughters Katheryn Reich and J'Nevelyn White, sons Robert, Stanley and James White and one cousin Mary Pierce. Bob is survived by sixteen grandchildren and their families Larry and Laura Reich; Robert, Matthew, Edward, Darren, and Jacob White; Thomas and Hans Blom, Scott, Michael, and Josh White; and Warren, Sam, and Eric White and Savannah Hayden. He was also blessed to have 25 great-grandchildren.

After serving in so many D-days his family and close friends will remember him in a private service on the most famous D-day- June 6th.