William Robert Chester White, Jr.

Wareham - William R. (Bob) C. White passed away August 20, 2024 at his home due to complications of pulmonary fibrosis. Born in 1939 and raised on a farm in Batavia, NY, he was the son of William R. C. White, Sr and Ruby D. Torrey White, both deceased. Following graduation from Cornell University, Ithaca, NY in 1961, he served two years in Praia da Victória, Terceira, Azores as the assistant operations officer and documentation officer for the 7415 US Army Transportation Terminal Unit. Midway through his tour he married Barbara Anna Zinsmeister from West Ghent, NY.

Bob is survived by his wife Barbara of Wareham, their two daughters Susan M. (White) Harrison and her husband Douglas A. Harrison of Lexington, KY, Kimberly D. White and her lifelong partner, Andrew J. Castrenze of Centerville, MA. Bob has a surviving sister, Shirley A. D. (White) Sutay and her husband Stephen Sutay of Fairfield Bay, AR, a brother, Willard P. K. White and his wife Sharon E. (O’Hern) White of Batavia, NY, a niece Sarah (White) Sauka, and three nephews, Robert Frieda, Gene Sutay, and Todd Sutay.

After his initial stint on active duty, Bob continued a military career in the United States Army Reserve until his retirement in 1999 as a Colonel and 3rd Brigade Commander in the 98th Div. (TNG). As a Reservist, he completed his Masters Degree in Public Administration at The George Washington University while attending the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, DC.

Bob was the Meat Plant Manager at Cornell University for many years. Returning to Cornell after several years in Washington, he worked in the Office of Sponsored Programs, assisting researchers in obtaining grant support. Later, Barbara and he operated the Sjöholm Inn, a bed and breakfast, in West Falmouth, MA. Eventually moving to Wareham and retiring into several seasonal positions in the maritime field serving tourists and boat owners on Cape Cod and in Wareham, MA.

He became interested in videography and joined Wareham Community Television soon after moving to the area. After a long period of volunteering, he was employed recording and broadcasting Wareham committee meetings through the public access network. Along the way he recorded numerous Wareham veterans and provided their interviews to the Wareham Free Library as part of the Wareham Adopt A Vet Program.

While in Wareham he served three years on the Finance Committee and later as Chairman of the Veterans Council during its rebirth and the presentation of The Moving Wall Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

He enjoyed collecting books in support of his many interests, especially military history.

His family and friends will miss him, and he wished them all well as they continue their life journeys. A private ceremony will be held at the Massachusetts National Cemetery. A celebration of Bob’s life will be held in the Fall of 2024.

Donations in Bob's memory can be made to the The Friends of the Wareham Free Library, Friends of the Wareham Council on the Aging, and Beth Israel Deaconess Plymouth Cranberry Hospice

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