Peter C. White

A beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, Pete was known for his kind heart, strong values and humble nature. He was, in short, a good man. Raised in Sidney, NY, Peter enlisted as part of the Military Intelligence Agency and was stationed in Germany during the Vietnam war. He spent most of his career with IBM/Lockheed Martin in Owego, NY, managing the outfitting of military aircraft with the latest avionics, warfare and spy equipment.

Pete could build or fix anything. While living in Owego, he maintained his own 160-acre forest, from which he logged the timber to build his family a beautiful vacation home in Star Lake, NY. In retirement, Habitat For Humanity—plus many of his neighbors—were the fortunate beneficiaries of these talents.
Pete relished the outdoors, and could always be found hiking in the woods, mountain biking or discovering new waterfalls and vistas. When he wasn’t on foot, he and Joyce enjoyed traveling up and down the East Coast in their RV, visiting family and gorgeous parks along the way. Pete loved the solitude of nature, but he was also a people person, sharing lots of laughs with very good friends, especially during “Thursday Afternoon Beer Time.”

By example, Pete taught all four sons to work tirelessly to do their absolute best. He got his BS at Elmira College by working the midnight to 8am shift at IBM which allowed him to come home, sleep a few hours and then go to school. By making many sacrifices like this, Pete was able to provide each of the boys with a good education and a pathway to success.

Pete’s loyalty and respect for Joyce was evident at all times; he loved her every day of his life. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Birchenough White; their children: Patrick (Mary), Daniel (Bobbi), Ryan, and Nate (Serena); grandchildren: Aidan, Audrey, Sailor, Ashley, Christian, Adam, Mia and Brooks; and siblings: Sue (John) Ford, Jon (Hope), and Lurinda.

He will be laid to rest at the Salisbury National Cemetery, NC.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation (NPCF.us). https://www.npcf.us/ways-to-donate/

“The mountains are calling, and I must go” - John Muir

James Funeral Home is assisting the family, online condolences may be made at www.jamesfuneralhomelkn.com.