Tuell White Jr
Age - 88
October 12, 2023
Tuell Andrews White, Jr. June 21, 1935 - Oct. 6, 2023Tuell Andrews (T. A. ) White, Jr. was born to Margaret Greathouse White and Tuell Andrews White, Sr. on June 21, 1935, in Memphis, Tenn. His only sibling, a sister, Mary Elizabeth, was born in 1940. They lived in Wheatley, Ark. until T. A. was six years old. When his dad got a new job, they moved to Monticello, Ark. , and this is where T. A. remained from first grade until he graduated high school in 1953. Many summers during this time were spent at his maternal grandmother's house in Greathouse Springs near Fayetteville, Ark. After high school T. A. took two years of pre-engineering courses at Arkansas A&M College (now University of Arkansas - Monticello). After a less than desirable outcome during his two years of academics, he needed a change. T. A. joined the Army and committed to three years in the Army Security Agency (ASA). He completed basic training at Fort Chaffee, Ark. , and afterwards was sent to Fort Devens, Mass. , 30 miles west of Boston. Here, he studied electronics and learned to repair a variety of classified communications equipment. After graduation from electronics school, he was assigned to Vint Hill Farms Station in Virginia, the supply and maintenance center of the ASA. In 1956, after completing his three-year assignment in the Army, T. A. moved back to his family's home, now located in Little Rock, where his dad had been previously promoted to a new job. With more maturity and discipline under his belt, T. A. had a renewed determination to finish his degree. In 1958, he graduated from Little Rock Junior College (now, University of Arkansas - Little Rock) with a degree in mathematics and minors in both physics and biology. While attending Little Rock Junior College, he worked part-time in the camera department of Crank's drugstore. After graduation, T. A. took the civil service exam for federal employment opportunities. Soon after, he received a telegram offering him a job as a cartographer with the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC) inSt. Louis. He found a nearby apartment and began his 6-month training in cartographic training school. With his degree in mathematics, he was assigned to the math studies division. It was here that T. A. befriended another student in the class behind his. Her name was Marilyn Ann Wilson from Beaumont, Texas. T. A. and Marilyn each went home for Thanksgiving that year, and afterwards T. A. offered to drive Marilyn back to St. Louis from Little Rock. Marilyn took a bus from Beaumont to Little Rock and then the two of them rode the rest of the trip to St. Louis together in T. A. 's new Volkswagen Beetle. On May 23, 1964, T. A. and Marilyn were married in a private ceremony at the Centenary Methodist Church in downtown St. Louis. After their first two children were born, David, in 1964 and Stephen, in 1967, they bought a house in Arnold, Mo. Here, they completed their family with the birth of their daughter, Amy, in 1971. In 1994, T. A. retired from the ACIC, which had by this time been reorganized and renamed Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center (DMAAC). Marilyn continued teaching high school math at Windsor High School for five more years before retiring in 1999. In 2003, they moved to the Springfield area to be closer to their children and two grandchildren. T. A. was extremely devoted to his family. He spent his life doing the things he thoroughly enjoyed, such as spending time with family, participating in church activities, doting on his grandchildren, taking photos, researching family history, gardening, woodworking, traveling, writing/storytelling, and (probably his favorite) going out to eat. He had a tremendous sense of humor and an uncanny ability to recall lyrics to any commercial or ad jingle from the 1940s-50s. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, and usually did. He could also recite poetry from memory and sing just about any song from his era. Holidays were made special with family traditions, and he loved nothing more than having a home where his children, grandchildren, family and friends were able to gather and have fun. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him. A Celebration of Life is scheduled from 3-5 p. m. on Friday, Oct. 27, 2023. Family and friends are encouraged to join the family at the Clever Methodist Church fellowship hall, located at 202 Kennedy Ave. , Clever, Mo. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Missouri Kidney Program. This was a program that meant a lot to T. A. and his family. To donate, please visit https://mokp. org/donate/. T. A. is survived by his wife, Marilyn; his sister, Mary Weeks; his children, David (wife, Cindy), Stephen (wife, Jennifer) and Amy (husband, Richard); and his grandchildren, Bailey and Owen.Show more
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
