Darryl Lee White

Darryl passed away peacefully on July 15th, at the Southfork River care home in Salem, Arkansas. He was 71.

Darryl was born in Chicago, Illinois on February 1, 1954 to Ralph White Jr. and Eileen Amanda White. He was raised in the Chicago area until 1967, when the family relocated to Orange, California. Darryl graduated from Orange High School and began working with Thompson Building Materials. He decided to join the US Army and became a Staff Sergeant with the 7th Armored Calvary and was stationed for most of his military career in the Fulda Gap, Germany. Upon honorable discharge in 1984, he returned home to Orange.

A bit of a free spirit, he uprooted from California in 1994 and settled in Big Fork, Alaska, rebuilding a cabin from scratch, and growing a flower and vegetable garden that was the envy of his neighbors as well as the moose that frequently decided to eat his endeavors. After several years in Alaska, he relocated to the Ozarks, an area with strong family ties, and settled in Camp, Arkansas, enjoying 65 acres of meadows, forest, ponds and streams.

Darryl’s loves included history – he was an avid student of European, Asian and Middle Eastern history having read several hundred books on the subject. He enjoyed discussing history with his friends and family and was one of those few who could draw analogues from historical events going back decades, or even centuries, and make comparisons with current day developments.

His other passions were animals – especially cats and Maine Coons in particular – and gardening. He loved to plant throughout his life and even while at South River, managed to turn his room into a nursery with more than 60 plants, cacti and dwarf citrus. In his words, planting and gardening ‘.. is a good hobby and helps people feel good inside…’

As those who knew Darryl can attest, he could be a bit cantankerous at times, but that could never cover up what was in fact his very soft and caring heart. Once you became his friend, he cherished you for his lifetime.

Darryl is survived by his brother Dean S. White.

No services are scheduled at this time.  Arrangements are under the direction of Barker Funeral Home in Salem, Arkansas.