William "Bill" Perry White

On Tuesday, June 26, 2018, William Perry White, commonly known as Bill White, passed away at the age of 69. Bill was born on February 9, 1949 in Portland, OR to Harold White and Rita McNamara. In 1981, he married Hong Thi (Huynh) White, commonly known as Rose. Together they had two sons, Michael and Jonathan. Along with Rose’s daughter Diem “Jimmi” Tryon, they all were together until 1991, when Rose and Bill were divorced. Bill grew up the oldest of 3 brothers and as the oldest it was his job to take care of his younger siblings, Dick and Dennis. He would always step in between them if they fought to break it up. As a child he was fascinated with taking things apart to learn how they worked. This fascination became the foundation for his work and hobbies throughout his life. Bill was a free spirited individual, always living life on his own terms, never afraid to try something different. One story that illustrates Bill’s free-spirited nature involves him at the age of 18 when he bought an old VW Beetle for $50 and began on a trek to Mardi Gras with three friends, no heat, and across two mountain passes. The car died and one by one his friends called their parents to come get them, with Bill holding out the longest (2 weeks). Bill finally called his father to send a plane ticket in which Bill intended to cash out the ticket to continue his journey. To his dismay, his father Harold show up in person to collect him instead. Bill entered the Navy on March 6, 1968 at the age of 19, specializing in Radio Mechanics. He enjoyed his service in the military, often saying later in life that he wished he would have made a career out of it. He was stationed on the USS Van Voorhis and was honorably discharged on June 1, 1970. Bill’s travels eventually took him to the small island of Guam, where he met his future wife Hong (Rose), and her daughter Diem. In 1980 while on Guam, Rose and Bill gave birth to Bill’s first son, Michael. Later the family moved to Brewster, Washington with Bill working at the Comsat Satellite Communication Center. Bill and Rose officially married in 1981 while in Brewster. Two years later Rose gave birth to Bill’s second son, Jonathan. Bill was what he called a “truth seeker”, always looking for the truths of the world, wherever they may be. He would often tell his sons growing up, that “the biggest liar you will ever meet is staring at you in the mirror”, referring to the importance of self-honesty. He would also teach them many other lessons including the importance of integrity, keeping your word, the value of hard work, and not being afraid to think outside the box. Bill was an adventurer, highly intelligent, and enjoyed helping others. He had a passion for electronics, but also was a minimalist and strived to live simply, often calling his lifestyle “an extended camping trip”. He would say he was spiritual, but not religious He was a proud father and grandfather and will be deeply missed by those who have had the pleasure of knowing him. Bill was preceded in death by his father Harold, his mother Rita, and his step-Mother Dotti. He is survived by his two sons Michael and Jonathan, and three brothers and sister, Dennis, Dick, Darren, and Kerry. A memorial service will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery located in Kent, WA on July 12th at 2:00 pm PST. Please express your thoughts and memories on our guest book at jonesjonesbetts.com. Arrangements are by Jones & Jones – Betts Funeral Home.

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William "Bill" Perry White

February 9, 1949 - June 26, 2018