Newport News remembers longtime shipyard brick mason Sandy William White Jr.

Community member and shipyard craftsman remembered

Longtime Peninsula resident Sandy William White Jr., born March 29, 1941, in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, is being remembered by family and friends following his death. He spent years working as a brick mason at Newport News Shipyard, part of the skilled trades workforce that has long sustained the local economy.

Services are scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of the M.E. Fisher Funeral Home, 2117 Madison Avenue, Newport News. The funeral home listed on the notice can be reached at 757-245-3302.

Family and survivors

Mr. White was preceded in death by his father, Sandy White Sr.. Those named in the obituary as survivors include his wife, Mrs. Wilma White, and his mother, Alease White of Richmond.

• Three sons: Curtis White (Wendy) of Richmond; Mack Bunn; and Andrew Bunn.
• Three daughters: Edith Moody of Angier, N.C.; Doris Lyons (Ricky) of Owings Springs, Md.; and Teawanda White of Angier, N.C.
• Eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren were listed among his survivors.
• Two sisters: Mary Alice Jones (William) of Clarksville and Louise Ruffin (Kenneth) of Richmond.
• Two brothers-in-law: Arthur Harper and Elijah Bunn, plus a host of extended family and friends.

"He resided on the peninsula for many years," the obituary states, noting his longtime ties to the community and the shipyard.

Local context

Skilled tradespeople like Mr. White have been a backbone of Newport News for generations, particularly through work at the shipyard, which has been a major local employer. Obituaries such as this reflect how families and neighborhoods remain connected through multigenerational ties to Peninsula industries and communities.

The funeral notice invites those who knew Mr. White to remember his life and the role he played in the local trades community. For arrangements, the M.E. Fisher Funeral Home can provide further details.