Donald White

Donald William White, an Adirondack Mountain man of many words, the epitome of the Golden Rule, and the cornerstone of his family, passed away at his home on Sunday, July 7th, 2024. He was born August 2nd, 1934, in Lake Placid, New York to Oscar and Irene White. Ever the outdoorsman, he grew up going up to his family camp in the wilds of the mountains, hunting, fishing in nearby waters, hiking, and exploring his love of all thing’s wilderness. A well-known story in the family was of him disappearing from his bed as a toddler only to be found out back in the garden eating green onions in the moonlight. He continued his love of green onions his whole life, never being able to turn down at least a few of them when available.

In his teen years, he met the love of his life and future wife, Cynthia Hanson, one summer when she was in Lake Placid to continue her training in figure skating. He, the dashing hockey player, quickly won her heart. In 1954 they married in Indiana and quickly began their lives together. Over the next few years, they built their family of four daughters, Elise, Michele, Jennifer, and Andrea, while both completed their education at Butler University and started careers. Don spent more than 40 years working for Eli Lilly & Co. This included his work on the polio vaccine as well as contributions toward animal health.

Don was able to continue his love for hockey even here in Indiana by finding an arena and league to play in as well as discovering a love of golf. Being deeply ingrained as a mountain man, both he and his wife made sure to encourage the love of the Adirondacks and winter sports for not only their children, but also grandchildren. Many trips included a week or so back to Lake Placid, New York to visit his mother, Irene White, as well as to visit his old stomping grounds. Always one with a story, he would recall and share about his memories and past mischievous antics. These stories may include his leaving the family camp to hike a couple of miles to another camp as a very young boy, of course without permission from his parents, a mention of how he would work in exchange for entry to the local meeting and music barn, or about very early morning trips to the family camp to cook breakfast before hiking back down to get to school. On occasion, he would talk about accidentally burying an ax in his knee when his parents had told him the only thing off limits was using the ax while they were out for the evening. He never shied away from hard work. All the way up until his passing, he was still hauling out the feed to the horses every day.

The epitome of the Golden Rule, he treated everyone with the respect and grace he had to offer. He did what needed to be done for anyone that was in need. As one of the kindest men in the world, he would give anyone anything they needed, even if it meant he would go without. His selflessness was a gift to the world and his family. When his wife of 60+ years was no longer able to prepare the meals or do the basic household duties, he stepped up without hesitation, and he took on those tasks out of love and with honor for her. He had kind words for everyone he met; Don saw the good in everybody. He was able to go for a visit to Lake Placid in August of 2022 with many of his family members. He was able to visit some of his favorite places to hike and be in the mountainous wilderness again. This final visit was not only to have a casting ceremony honoring his late wife, it was also to get him back up to visit the place he loved with people he loved. During the visit, he was also able to attend the Emmylou Harris concert much to his delight. Being outside that day, surrounded by his beloved Adirondacks, listening to the music of his younger days, and singing and tapping along, brought him tremendous peace.

He had a deep love for animals of all kinds. Whether it was taking in a stray dog that ended up being pregnant and having puppies to being adopted by the pony down the road that kept appearing in the pasture, or feeding the local racoon population. He celebrated all life especially when it came to their family growing. With each marriage and pregnancy announcement in the family, he could often be heard responding with, “Oh sweetie, that’s wonderful. How lovely.” He was very proud of the large, loving family he and Cynthia created.

Called by many names: Don, Daddy, Pop, Papa, and Poppin’ Don, was a man that was the cornerstone of the sprawling family he started with his beloved wife, Cynthia. He will be forever ingrained in the spirits of those he loved and who loved him. He will live on through his loved ones with their own sense of adventure, love of the wilderness, peace in the Adirondacks, and remembering to cherish what we have in front of us.

He will live on through those survived by him; daughters Elise White Werner (Thomas) Galusha, Michele (Brent) Callahan, Jennifer (Christopher) Oracheff, and Andrea (Christian) Badger. Grandchildren include Sean (Valorie) Werner, Phil Werner and Julie Eaglin, Christian (Heather) Werner, Stephanie (Morgan) Wilkins, Melissa (Robert) Korthas, Jaclin (Chris) Miller, Alexander (Cheyenne) Badger, Jeff (Kayla) Callahan, Jessica (Carl) Girt, Aaron Badger, Julie (Ryan) Hoffman, Katherine (Zachary) Taylor, Andrew Oracheff and Emily Wulczynski, Justin Badger. Great-Grandchildren include Gavin (Morgan) Werner, Emily Head and Joshua Perdue, Aiden Werner, Ethan Head, Gavin Allen, Lillian Werner, Aubrey Smith, Wyatt Werner, Lilah Allen, Violet Badger, Millicent Wilkins, Abraham Wilkins, Jackson Barrett, Cora Barrett, Claire Korthas, Olivia Korthas, Eleanor Girt, and Margaret Callahan. Great-Great-Grandson Ronan Werner. Additional loved ones include Ryan Pike and Alexander Reinhardt.

A memorial service for Don will be held on Sunday, August 4, 2024, at 2:30 PM at First Friends Church, 3030 Kessler Boulevard E Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46220. Following the service, there will be a reception in the church parlor. Don’s services have been entrusted to Bozell Funeral Homes- Lahm Chapel.