David Alexander White

David Alexander White passed away unexpectedly on October 9, 2022. A beloved son and friend, who leaves behind many broken hearts, David was born on June 1, 1973, in Durham, North Carolina, the only child of Melba White (Wagoner) and Denny Wagoner. Always insatiably curious, he was a voracious reader and student throughout his life. Compassionate and kind-hearted, he inspired and delighted others through his many God-given talents, including music and decorative painting.

When he was in the third grade, he began piano lessons with his mother, a talented musician in her own right. He went on to study with John Ruggero, whom he loved dearly and who continued to nurture David’s musical talent. In the tenth grade David was accepted into the NC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, where he had the honor of studying with Clifton Matthews, his mother’s former teacher during her studies at UNC-Chapel Hill; he remained there to study piano performance. While David devoted most of his life to the pursuit of musical excellence, he was also a gifted tennis player—a sport that brought him joy throughout much of his life.

After his college years, travels took him to New York City, Washington, DC, and on several extended stays in India for missions work—a natural extension of his innate desire to help others in whatever circumstances they found themselves. Responding to his drive to learn and grow, he studied Tibetan medicine and the use of herbs in alternative medical techniques; in addition, he pursued studies in Venetian plaster and decorative painting, a profession in which he taught and excelled for two decades.

A student for years under Will Duncan (Sifu Duncan), a master martial arts instructor, David studied the Chinese internal martial arts Tai Chi, Xingyiquan, and Baguaquan. He was a second level black sash in those three martial arts.

David invested his last years teaching piano to a host of bright-eyed, enthusiastic students, who brought him great joy.

He is survived by his mother, Melba White of Cary, North Carolina; his father Denny Wagoner of Pflugerville,Texas; and five cousins: Leigh Holmes, Forde Aley, Austin Aley, Joan Stone, and John Simmons.

Memorial gifts may be made in David’s memory to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 7023, Merrifield, VA 22116-7023.

A celebration of David’s life has been arranged for Saturday, October 29 at 2:00 p.m. in the sanctuary of First United Methodist Church, 117 South Academy Street, Cary, North Carolina.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BrownWynneCary.com for the White family.