Richard Austin White1946 2013Richard Austin White passed away on January 9, 2013, in Arlington, Virginia. Rick was born in Washington, DC on July 15, 1946, the older son of Harold Edward White and Merlene Austin White.Rick was an honor student at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys, California, where he was very active in student government and activities. He graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in Political Science with high honors in 1968. While at the U, Rick was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He was a loyal Sig and served as house manager, to the dread of many a pledge during his tenure. Rick earned honors for his scholarship at the U, being a member of Owl and Key and Phi Kappa Phi.Rick graduated from the University of Utah College of Law and briefly worked for his father until his U.S. Naval ROTC commission took him to the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Rick later served at the Naval Amphibious Base in Coronado, California. In July of 1977, Rick was appointed a Lieutenant Commander in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, United States Navy. He served in the legal department at US Naval bases in San Francisco, Subic Bay in the Philippines, Guam, Norfolk, Virginia and finally in Washington, DC, where he received a Meritorious Service Medal for his service. After his retirement from the Navy, Rick worked for the RTC in Washington, DC.Rick lived in Falls Church and Arlington, Virginia the last thirty plus years of his life. He loved the museums, history and political atmosphere of the DC area. While in Arlington, Rick served as the parish fund raiser for the St. Thomas Episcopal Church. Rick was also well traveled. He cruised around the world, visiting the Far East, the Amazon and many other exotic regions.Though never married, Rick enjoyed family. He spent many cruises with his mother, Merlene, and he enjoyed the company of his nieces and nephews, Laurie, James, Whitney and Patrick, both in Northridge, California and in Salt Lake City.Rick is survived by his brother, Ronald E. (Susan) White, four nieces and nephews, Laurie (Mitch) Moyers, James (Melissa) White, Whitney (Jeff) Norman, and Patrick White, and ten grandnieces and grandnephews. He is also survived by eight cousins and his aunt, Ramona Woodhead of Salt Lake City. He is predeceased by his parents, Hack and Merlene White.A memorial service will be held at Larkin Mortuary, 260 E. South Temple on Friday, January 18, 2013 at 12:00 noon. Interment will immediately follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. At Rick's request, a Sigma Chi White Rose Ceremony will be held at the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Huntsman Cancer Institute.
