Harold W White

Harold Wayne White, 76, of Crystal River, Florida, passed away on April 23, 2026. Born October 20, 1949, in Marietta, Georgia, he was the eldest son of Harold L. and Gearldine (Bunn) White.

Wayne served his country proudly in the United States Air Force from 1969 to 1973, working as a Flight Simulator Technician at Bergstrom Air Force Base in Austin, Texas. He went on to graduate from the University of Georgia in 1975, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism. He served as a Probation Officer for the State of Georgia from 1976 to 1987, and spent the remainder of his working life as a self-employed Master Auto Mechanic and Small Business Owner.

A Christian in faith though not a member of any congregation, Wayne was a man of many talents who loved his family deeply. He was smart, stubborn, and loved to laugh, and talk about politics. He was famously, unapologetically late to nearly everything, a habit his family came to know simply as being on "Wayne Time." He found joy in saltwater fishing, gardening, and canning the vegetables he grew, and he had an appreciation for southern cooking, with a particular love of fried mullet. He spent part of nearly every day on the phone with the friends he cared about, and had a lifelong love of history and the outdoors. His dogs were never far from his side, and he treated them as family, his beloved Buddy was his constant companion in his last years.

Wayne was a hard worker to the very end, doing his own mechanic work, yard work, and home repairs until just a year before his passing. He was the one the family and just about anyone else would call when something needed fixing, whether it was a car, a leaky faucet, or a problem that needed an honest opinion. He was known to pull over and fix a stranger's car on the side of the road, to open his home to people who needed a place to stay, and to buy groceries for those who were going without. He was also the keeper of his family's history, and the stories he carried will be remembered by all who loved him.

In his final months, Wayne wished to express his deep gratitude to his wife, Julie, whose loving care and devotion through his declining health meant more to him than words could say.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Julie (Hawkins) White, whom he married on September 2, 1972; his eldest son, Steven M. White of Woodstock, Georgia; and his youngest son, Michael S. White of Watkinsville, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold L. and Gearldine (Bunn) White; his sister, Lemual (White) Moore; and his brother, James Randall "Randy" White.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Woodstock Community Church in Woodstock, Georgia, with Pastor Ruben Smith officiating.