Dr. Robert William White, age 97, of Oshkosh, passed away at Westbrooke Manor on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. He was born in Appleton on April 25, 1920, the son of the late Jesse and Edna (Miller) White.
Robert earned his B.S. degree at Platteville State Teachers College. There he was on the football team, was a drum major, and was a member of the student council.
Robert was a WWII veteran. He joined the Army Air Corps and was trained as a meteorologist at the University of Chicago. From 1943 to 1945 he served as a meteorologist, a weather officer, with the 306th Bomber Group, 8th Air Force (a B-17 bomber base), in Thurleigh England.
After returning home from the war, he met and married his wonderful wife, Catherine J. Smith.
Using the G.I. bill, he went to graduate School at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he completed his M.S. degree in physics. He taught physics at various locations around the state, including UW-Superior. After working on an oil exploration seismograph crew and Amarada Hess Company for several years, he returned to graduate school at UW-Madison where he completed his doctorate in education in 1961.
For the next 25 years, or so, he was a physics professor at UW-Oshkosh. He was also the Assistant Dean of the graduate school for a couple of years, and was then the Dean for a while.
He loved to play handball at the "Y" and was an active member of the Red Welt Handball Club at the Oshkosh Y.M.C.A. Robert was a Boy Scout leader, and a big Packer fan. After retiring, he enjoyed many happy years traveling with his family, playing golf, hunting with his sons, square dancing, playing bridge and attending Elder Hostels.
He was a wonderful father, much loved by his family and friends. He was a wonderful teacher, who had a very positive impact on the lives of a great many students.
Robert is survived by his sons: Richard (Judith) White of Alameda, CA, David (Leigh Splitt) White of Grand Chute, WI and John (Annette) White of Winona Lake, IN; grandchildren: Matthew R. White, Peter F. (Katie) White, Maggie A. White, Elise C. White and Laura E. White. He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine Jane White; son, Air Force Captain Lawrence James White; and sister, Marjorie (Robert) Hartshorn.
A visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 27, 2017 at the funeral home. On Friday, July 28, a visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. at St. Jude the Apostle, SACRED HEART SITE, 519 Knapp St., Oshkosh, with Fr. Jerome Pastors officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Oshkosh.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund in Robert's name is being established.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Fr. Jerome Pastors and St. Jude the Apostle for their wonderful care.