Wilber White

Wilber White was born on October 10, 1926, on the family farm in St. Francis Kansas to Arthur E White and Mary Jane (Houtman) White. Wilber grew up with his brothers Glenn White, Lee White, and Ward White. The family moved to Lebanon, Oregon where Wilber followed his dad to the shipyards of Seattle, Washington, and worked until he enlisted in the Navy during WW ll. After being discharged from the Navy, Wilber attended a trade school in Chicago, Illinois, and became an Electrician and lineman. Wilber moved back to Lebanon and worked for a company called Dean McKeane in Albany, Oregon. Wilber met his future wife Betty J. Holmes on a blind date and they were married on July 28, 1951. Their family grew to include four children Barbara, Wanda, Gary and David. During those early years, they had moved to Newport and built their home on San Bay O Circle. The couple was blessed with grandchildren, Bradley, Brian, Nancy, Elizabeth and Sarra, and later great grandchildren Sabrina, Darius, & Callista. Web passed away peacefully in his home on the evening of Sunday, August 2nd, 2020 at the age of 94 just 5 days after Betty and Web's 69th Wedding Anniversary. Wilber, Web, as known to most is remembered as an incredibly hard-working family man. He took pride in everything he did. He was a force not only in his work but his community contributions. Web worked for Lincoln PUD for 37 years, In 1965 Web was in an accident that not many would have ever survived. He was in a pole top accident in the field which resulted in a 7200-volt shock that luckily didn't go across his body but in and out the same side. He was saved by a fast thinking co-worker who heard him scream and saw the flash and got him off that pole and revived him and Web spent the next 14 months in several different Hospitals in Portland, OR. An Electrical burn from the inside out, his nervous and muscle systems were burned, but somehow the bone marrow was still good and he was able to keep his leg, and after 14 operations including skin grafts on both legs and having his thumb rebuilt he used his strong will and secondary muscles to walk again. Web will always be remembered as a man who never gave up and always kept moving, no 7200 volts were going to keep this man down. Web went back to work with PUD and worked in sales and safety while going back and forth to doctor appointments. Eventually, he ended up in office maintenance and they created a position of Safety Supervisor just for him. Who better than Web to lead the way, and lead he did! PUD, as of Web's retirement in 1988, had an outstanding record for safety. His retirement was a milestone for a man who more than earned his retirement! Web never stopped working. No! He didn't stop there! He was an officer at the Newport Elks for over 30 years, a founding member of the Newport Elks and was Exalted Ruler Twice in those years. Web's contributions to the Elks are too many to list. He was there every single day that he could be and his incredible work ethic was a huge part of the success of our local chapter. His wife Betty was his partner in his work with the Elks, Betty worked side by side with Web and supported his work. He was on the committee for 12 years for the Boy Scout Troop 62 that was sponsored by the elks. He was a starter for the Newport swim team for AAU and high school meets. He was always working on all the events at the Elks and you could find him wrapping gifts at Christmas time to help for charity. Nobody could wrap or unwrap a gift more meticulous than Web. He loved Elks camp outs, hosting meals for the community. In his later years Web still went to the Elks every single day to clean and maintain things as if it were his own. That is the thing about this man. He never stopped caring, working, or being responsible for his family and his community. He was an incredibly gifted man, Web hand-carved beautiful wooden ducks that found homes throughout the world. They were given as gifts, sent home with exchange students, sold in gift shops in the '70s, and for many years to come. He loved macramé, anything to keep him moving and busy; he loved old western books, movies, and gardening. He was funny and one heck of a flirt. His smile could light up the room. Web's laugh was contagious and he will forever be missed. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Glenn and Lee, and his Daughter Barbara and Grandson Bradley. He was cremated and there will be a service at a later time.

Tributes

Wilber White

October 10, 1926 - August 2, 2020