 WHITE, RUTHERFORD "R.D." If you asked Rutherford D. White, who was 87 when he passed on May 6, 2014, who was the greatest of all time, he would not say Muhammad Ali. He would look at you crazy, with those huge eyes of his, wondering why you asked such a silly question and tell you that you were staring at the greatest. Born in Lexington, KY on September 30, 1926 to Rutherford Sr. and Marie Louise White, one year before his baby sister, Wilhelmina Leroy (deceased), R.D. (as he was known to everyone) knew he wanted to travel the world. He joined the Navy and got to stay in places he would never pay for on his own; because if you knew R.D., you know that he would try to finagle his way out of paying $15 for a hotel and try to convince people that sleeping in the car was just as good of an alternative (and boy was he convincing)! Maybe it was from his love of travel why his children would sing in his presence "Papa Was a Rolling Stone." Or maybe it was because where ever he laid his hat was, indeed, his home-as evidence by his son, Michael Wing and wife Barbara of Maryland; his daughters, Kathy Grace and Rene Grace of New Bedford, MA, daughter, Saundra Grace and husband Sidney Lawrence of Toledo, OH; and from his wife of 42 years, the girl that made him say "good googly-woogly!" when she walked into the room, the one that made him put a ring on it, Popie White, their two children, son, Dino White and wife Cynthia of Miramar, FL; and his youngest daughter, (I bet you thought the list would never end, huh?!), Melita White of Albuquerque, NM. If you thought he was proud of his children, you should hear him brag about his grandchildren, who, luckily, all carry his strong genes: Marlon and Marlo (and great granddaughter, Nola Marie), Sherrick, Dominga and DeVante', and he found a new love being a Papou to Kino (7), Kawika (4), and Amaya (not quite 2, but she will tell you she is). The 6'4" R.D. was a man that wore many hats: singer, dancer, crab eater, house fixer, story teller, jokester, mess talker, event remember-er (I swear he was better than Google), reminder for his mother-in-law and bosom buddy, 'Mama' Emilia, to put in her teeth, best cook this side of the Mississippi, and most handsome cat to ever look in a mirror. Unfortunately, there will be no more trips to visit his friends at Kirtland AFB pharmacy, where he volunteered for 15 years. There will be no more phone calls to his old friends back in Kentucky, or to his closest cousin, Vincent Price, to talk about his favorite Kentucky Wildcats, nor to his brother-in-law, Leon Leroy, who kept in touch devotedly every Saturday. Despite all of this greatness, the good Lord took him home and we will be holding a viewing and visitation for R.D. on Tuesday, 13, 2014 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at Daniels Family Funeral Services, Sara Chapel, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 at 10:30 am at First Baptist Church of West Albuquerque, 6400 Golf Course Road, NW. A reception will follow the services. Interment will be held at 2:00 pm at Vista Verde Memorial Park, Rio Rancho, NM. One last request: R.D. was a practical man and not a fan of flowers, as evidence of him buying a dryer and freezer as a push present when his son, Dino, was born. In lieu of beautiful blossoms, we ask that you make a donation to First Baptist Church of West Albuquerque where R.D. attended every Sunday, lending his well-known, booming, baritone voice to the church choir. This is R.D.'s last party and nothing would put a smile more on his face than knowing his friends and family are getting together to celebrate his life and send him home to the Lord. To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505-892-9920
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