Columbus, OH — Robert George White, 91, of Ionia, Mich., died Dec. 10, 2023, and was once again reunited with his wife and best friend, Dawn.

Mr. White was born Nov. 8, 1932, the son of Robert W. and Marguerite (Bemis) White. He grew up in south Ionia and attended Loomis school as a child. He attended Ionia High School where he played football, ran track, and enjoyed designing blueprints in drafting class. He graduated high school with the class of 1950.

He was drafted into the US Army in 1953 and served our country on the front line in Korea during the Korean War as a machine gunner in Special Forces. While in the service, he played catcher on a championship softball team. He was honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1955.

One of his favorite passions, received from his father and passed onto his son, was harness racing. He raced on the Michigan Fair circuits and loved to watch Standardbred horses at Jackson Harness Raceway, Sports Creek and Northville Downs.

He married Dawn Capron, from Ionia, on March 31, 1956. They had 59 years together and raised two children. He always provided well for his family and even built the house they lived in.

Mr. White worked in high school setting pins at the Ionia bowling alley and setting type for the Ionia Sentinel Standard. After returning home from the Army, he carried steel for the construction of I-96 between Portland and Lowell and later worked several years as a welder at Gibson’s in Belding. He retired from the Michigan Reformatory after 22 years.

He was a member of the American Legion in Portland and the USTA.

He started Bible Believers Grace Church in his home in 1993 and was faithful in supporting the work for the rest of his life. In his later years, he enjoyed attending events at the Ionia Commission on Aging, the Ionia Moose and breakfast with his friends.

Mr. White had a servant’s heart, always willing to lend a hand, and was a faithful soul winner. He was quick with a joke, a laugh and telling prison stories. He was tough on the exterior, but had a compassionate heart for his family, those in need and for the things of God.

He leaves behind his children, David (Laurie nee Perkin) and Diane (Doug) Warwick; grandchildren, Lucas, Harmony (Dean) Glashower, Daniel, Cristy (Jarrett), and James Dean; and great-grandchildren, Noah, Hope Glashower and Samuel Glashower. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dawn; brothers, Jerry and Gary; sisters-in-law, Joyce, Shirley, and Virginia; niece, Marsha; along with many of his family and friends.