Jack White

Bobby “Jack” White filled almost 90 years with adventures and hobbies and love for his family.

Born in Oklahoma to Beulah and Walter White, he moved to Texas after his father died before Jack was two years old. When his mother married John Pritchett, he gained new siblings and grew up in Trinidad, Texas where he played football.

At the age of 17, Jack joined the U.S. Navy during World War II and shipped out for training in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Just before he was to be deployed to the South Pacific, the war ended. After his service in the navy, Jack moved back to Texas where he met Kathryn Ringo. They were married November 29, 1949, and lived in Addison, TX where Pamela Kay and Bobby Jack, Jr. completed their family.

Jack and Kathryn moved to Dallas in 1968 and lived in the same house on Calla Drive for 48 years.

Jack White was well-known for his love of his hobbies. He competed in archery tournaments and co-founded an archery club off Keller Springs in the city of Addison . In 1962, he was the Texas State Archery Champion and many family memories revolve around trips to tournaments.

In his 30s, Jack decided to learn to play the clarinet. He loved big band music and loved the sound of the instrument. In his 80s, while home alone when his wife, Kathryn, was in a nursing home for a few years, he brought out his music and practiced to pass the time.

At the age of 39, Jack earned his black belt in karate. He worked for years as a head karate instructor for Allen Steen’s Karate Institute of Texas. He competed in the state finals in 1973 and was ranked #8 in the Southwest in 1974. In recent years, Jack was nominated for the Karate Masters Hall of Fame.

Jack was an avid bow hunter and fisherman and successfully passed down his love of the outdoors to his son and grandsons, spending many hours around campfires telling stories.

Jack was a welder for Texas Instruments, where he worked until he retired. In his retirement years, he worked with the SMU department of engineering as a welder. Out in his workshop at his home, he continued to solve metal-related problems for many, using trigonometry and engineering principles to create masterful, precision work, even though he didn’t have a college degree.

Jack was a member of Preston Highlands Baptist Church and faithfully attended a men’s Bible study on Thursday mornings at 7 a.m. for years.

Whether he was lending a tool to a neighbor or crossing the country with Kathryn on the back of his Harley, Jack lived many adventures and made countless friends. His garage door was always open to welcome any who stopped by on a random Tuesday.

While so many of Jack’s oft repeated phrases make his family smile (that’s the way the bongo bingles!), his repeated awe and wonder over the blessings of his family leave no doubt in their minds that each and every one of them was loved by Jack, and he was loved by them.

Jack is survived by his wife Kathryn White, daughter Pam Evans and her husband David, son Bobby White and his wife Dana, grandchildren Allison Meguro and her husband Shigeaki, Emily Evans, Jackson, Reid and Presley White, great grandchildren Mia and Kenzo Meguro and Addison Evans, sisters Jenice Bailey, Joyce Libhart and Edna Mae Tims.  Jack was preceded in death by  his parents Walter and Beulah White Pritchett, step father John Pritchett and brothers J.W. Pritchett and Robert Pritchett.

The family will receive friends at a visitation Friday, August 18, 2017 from 6-8:00 P.M. at Preston Highlands Baptist Church, 17463 Davenport Dr., Dallas, Texas 75252.  The funeral service to celebrate Jack’s life will be Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at Preston Highlands Baptist Church, with Rev. John Sypert, officiating.   Jack will be laid to rest at Restland Memorial Park following the service.  If desired, contributions may be made in Jack’s name to The American Cancer Society, P O Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma  73123-1718 or www.cancer.org or 800-ACS-2345.