Obituary of Ronald Gordon White

June 11, 1958 – November 19, 2023

You loved and enjoyed life and shared this love and laughter not only with your family, but with  everyone you met. Your infectious smile and persona will be remembered by all who knew you. 

It is with broken hearts that we announce the unexpected passing of Ronald Gordon White our beloved husband, father, brother and true friend, on November 19, 2023.  Ron is survived by his wife, Sue, their daughters Jocelyn and Sabrina, and three “grand-doggers” - Scout, Sadie and Oats. He is also survived by his siblings, Jane, Gilbert (Margot), and Jean (Don), and his many nieces and nephews, Laura, Karen, Jennifer, Brian, Aaron, Dianne, Thomas, Christopher, and Peter(deceased). 

Ron was born in Toronto on June 11, 1958, to Gilbert and Rita White. He attended Terraview Heights Public School, Victoria Park Secondary School, and then graduated from the University of Toronto with a BSc in Computer Science.

In 1983 he met Sue Best at a New Year's Eve party. His first exposure to the farm life, was picking stones and helping his future father in law clean-up the milking parlour.  Ron charmed Sue's cautious parents with his work ethic and humour. They were married on June 7, 1986, at Eldad United Church in Solina. Ron and Sue made their first home in Beeton, and then Brampton, where they raised Jocelyn and Sabrina.

Ron loved all types of  music - classic rock, alternative, classical and new artists. He had a near encyclopedic knowledge of the rock bands from the 60s and 70s, and followed rock and alt-rock music all his life. He had a keen interest in science and astronomy, starting his university studies in chemistry before finding his way to computer science. History, especially the era of the World Wars, was a life long passion. He also read many science fiction and fantasy books, and shared the fun of the Potterverse with his girls. He had a remarkable memory and would eagerly discuss any of his interests with a willing listener. Ron's love for the night sky was evident as he would identify the constellations and planets for anyone wanting this knowledge. Camping trips with family and friends were highlights of his summers, especially those with his daughters. Jocelyn and Sabrina have many fond memories of those trips.

Ron loved their summer home in Port Severn, where they had a wide community of friends to share campfires and stories. He played golf and horseshoes for the fun and laughter and the occasional good shot. In the winter, Ron and Sue would pack up the car and head south to Tucson, Arizona, where they enjoyed the beautiful desert sunsets and views. He loved to spend his days hiking in the mountains and getting together with friends for meals and camaraderie . He would take on any home project, his own and others, and made any task easier with endless patience and a laugh that made everyone else join in too.

In 2015, Ron and Sue retired on the same day, so they could spend their lives with friends and family travelling. Their dream of travelling took them across Canada, the U.S., Mexico, Europe, Africa, and South America, and they had plans for many more adventures.

Ron spent his education and work life in the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Visions of Science is an organization that provides STEM education programs to low-income and under-represented communities in the Greater Toronto Area. Should you wish to donate in Ron's memory , please consider Visions of Science: https://www.vosnl.org/donate

Ron's celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 8^th, 2024, at Coldwater Legion in Coldwater from 1– 4pm. Please plan to join us in remembering Ron's big heart, infectious laughter, and love of life.  There will be a memory box area for you to write down your memories, so please bring pictures, stories and fond memories to his celebration of life.