Donald R. White

Donald R. White, 89, of Mt. Pleasant, died Monday, Oct. 15, at the Henry County Health Center.

His body has been cremated. Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 at the Forest Home Cemetery in Mt. Pleasant. Full military rites will be conducted by the Henry County Honor Guard commanded by Dean King. There will be no visitation. Memorials have been established to the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Pleasant.

The Olson-Powell Memorial Chapel of Mt. Pleasant is in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.olsonpowell.com.

Donald was born Dec. 1, 1917, near Salem, the son of Roy and Ruth Sampson White. He graduated from Salem High School in 1935, and attended Iowa State University for one year. On Nov. 22, 1945, he married Ruth Klopfenstein in Mt. Pleasant.

Donald served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. He served four years in the European theater and received five battle stars.

After farming for a number of years, the Whites moved to Mt. Pleasant, where he worked at the former R. E. C., the Post Office and operated the Kwiki Car Wash on North Broadway. Following his retirement he worked part time for Contel Telephone Company and at Tony's Pep Stop.

White was a member of the American Legion Post #58 since 1948. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he served as a trustee and was an usher for many years. He was an avid fisherman, artifact hunter and dealer. He also loved to play cards and enjoyed raising roses and irises.

Donald is survived by his wife; one daughter, Shirley Bilotta and her husband Frank of Oviedo, Fla.; two grandchildren, Chris Bilotta and his wife Heather of Tampa, Fla. and Nikki Solminen and her husband Joel of Coon Rapids, Minn.; and one great-grandson, Tobin Joseph Bilotta of Tampa. Also surviving are two brothers, Kenneth White of Independence and Leonard White of Burlington; and two sisters, Eleanor Breazeale of Mt. Pleasant and Enid Burkey of Lodi, Calif.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Joyce White Gray; and one brother, Harold White.