September 16, 1932 — April 5, 2023

With all our love it is with great sadness our dad /Poppa was called home. Robert Williamson White passed away peacefully April 5, 2023, in Royal Inland Hospital with his family by his side. Robert was born September 16, 1932, to Rhoda Margaret Shaw and Frank Borland White in Richmond BC. Rob went to school at Bridgeport Elementary from grades 1 to 6.  The family came to the Heffley- Louis Creek valley in April of 1943, when Rob was a young boy of 10 years old. Their home was the Shaw Ranch at that time (settled by his grandfather) and became well known as Whitecroft Ranch. Rob attended McGillivray school, taught by his mother. In the fall of 1949, he went to Kamloops to complete his senior year. In May of 1950, he lost his own father to a horse accident and returned home to work on the ranch with his mother and brother-in-law, Jack Brady. Rob started full time ranching at 17 years old, milking cows and buying and selling cattle until retirement. In June 1956 at the age of 24, Rob met the love of his life, Rose Kingston at a Heffley Creek dance. They married on November 10, 1956. Rob had a lot to do with the development of Tod Mountain in the early years including taking the early developers up on horseback.  From 1968-1970 Rob ran the small T-bar at Tod Mtn.  Rob taught skiing for 5 years at Tod Mountain ski resort alongside Jim McConkey eventually joining his adult children on ski patrol.

Rob was very active in the cattle ranching community in the Kamloops area and a long-time member of the B.C. Cattlemen’s Association as well as being very active in the North Thompson Fall Fair for 4 H members. Rob was an excellent horseman, poet and story teller. By 1969 Rob took on school bus driving to get his own children to public school and drove for 20 years until retiring. Rob also worked at Burfield’s ski shop in Kamloops between morning and afternoon bus trips as well as Jardine’s sports shop. He was well respected by the local families and children whose lives he touched.

Rob loved to travel with Rose, they visited Hawaii, Tahiti, Mexico, Columbia, Palm Springs, Jamaica and lots of local lakes camping and water-skiing. By 1976 Rob and Rose build a home on one of their satellite properties, before retiring to Rayleigh and eventually Kamloops. Rob was a bit of a jokester teasing people to make them smile even later in the seniors home pretending to run over the residents’ toes with his walker just to get a giggle. His grandchildren have fond memories of Halloween pranks at Poppas place. He loved people and could talk to anyone!

Rob leaves behind to cherish his life Frank White (Candise), Rosemary Kanigan (Don), Shannon McIlquham (Brian). Poppa to his grandchildren David White (Beckay Dusenbury), Derek White, Sarah White (Jimmy Broomfield), Jacey Stanley (Pete Ludwick), Darcy (Tyler) Wilk, Erin (Matt) Brady, Brianna McIlquham (Devon Jones). Also fondly remembered by his Sister-in-law Louise Oakes, and 10 great grandchildren; as well as Nephew Barry Brady (Maureen), Niece Brenda Steiner (Ueli), Nieces Diana Wren (Bob), Christina Oakes (Morgan) and families. Many other extended members of the family: cousins, nieces and nephews are left to remember Rob with love, as are many friends. Predeceased by his parents Frank and Rhoda White, his loving wife Rose White of 66 years, his sister and brother-in-law Velma (Jack) Brady, his brother-in-law, Stan Oakes, niece Sandy Oakes, great nephew Darin Brady. The family would like to thank Chartwell Ridgepoint Retirement Residence, Dr.Wege, RIH staff and Doctors for their excellent care of Rob in his last days, and their compassion.

A memorial will be held at a later date, to allow distant family members and friends to attend.

Rob wrote many poems for his true love, Rose.

“My Rose My Wife”- our 55th Wedding Anniversary

The Rose I picked so long ago

Has bloomed Through the years

My wife, my rose how I love her so

Through laughter, love and tears

Her hair has turned to silver grey

Through all those years together

Each curl in place, frames a face

That I will love forever

There may be lines

Across her brow

Gathered over the years

Most are lines of laughter

Some have come from tears

Our family has grown now

Going their separate ways

Our life is filled with memories

Of those bygone days

Grandchildren arrived as blessings

How we love to see them so

We will live in their memories

As their own families grow

The Rose I picked as a young man

So many years ago

Was one of a kind, there was no other

That’s why I love her so

 

Love you Dad, “see you in the funnies”

Condolences may be sent to the family at Kamloops Funeral Home.

• Date : 2023-04-05
• Location : Kamloops