Dan White

FORT OGLETHORPE Dan White, 86, died Wednesday, March 20, 2013.The last of eleven children, he was raised in Summerville, Ga., where he helped his mom take care of his dad who was bedfast for many years. Dan was a living and caring dad and a devoted husband for 65 years. He worked extremely hard to support his family. He joined the U.S. Navy and served in World War II for four years. Dan then started his career in construction which he was extremely successful due to his perfection. He then became building inspector for Arlen Realty, now known as CBL. Dan handmade quality furniture which was also to perfection. In his later years, he took up the hobby of repairing lawn mowers and became known as "Lawnmodan." Anyone who knew him.... loved him. He had a giving heart and a great sense of humor - laughing all the time. Dan wanted a sign on his casket to say "Gone fishing with God", which his daughter, Danna, proudly made. He moved his family to Fort Oglethorpe in 1962. Dan was a member of Fort Oglethorpe First Baptist Church. He had been very active with the Tompkins Lodge #466 F&AM, Fort Oglethorpe for several years and also the Alhambra Shriners in the Mounted patrol with his horse Danny Boy. Our cherished years were when we spent days and nights fishing on the houseboat he proudly built to perfection. He loved life to the very end and looked forward to each and every day. He always had such a special way with children - he loved them deeply and in return they loved being with him.He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen White.He is survived by his daughter and caregivers, Danna and Butch Ford, Ringgold; daughters, Sheila (Leroy) Pettyjohn, Memphis, Tenn., Mona (John) Nixson, Virginia; grandchildren, Daniel Ford, Justin and Jennifer Ford, Jeff and Heidi Pettyjohn, Hailey and Robb Roaten, Kelli and Mike Johns, Rebecca Nixson.; great-grandchildren, his special bugs, Natalie, Kelsey, Braden, Kaylee and Levi Ford, Elizabeth, Michael Will, Sara, Andrew Johns, Robert, Brooke, and Ivy Roaten. Other special people in his life were his nephew, Joe and Debra Ramey, friends, David Chandler, Jennifer Burgess, Maycee Holder and Grayson Holder.Special thank you for the great care he was given to Amedysis Home Health, Missy Goodlett, Solamor Hospice and In Good Health and the Gathering, Darrell and Diane Henry and Mike and Debbie Wooden.Funeral services will be in 1 p.m. Saturday the funeral home chapel with Chaplain Marv Eskew and Orville White officiating.Interment will be in Lakewood Memory Gardens, South.Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort with the family and view the memorial tribute.The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home and Crematory, Battlefield Parkwa