Richard "Butch" White

Richard “Butch” White, 77, a longtime resident of Montgomery, AL, passed away peacefully at home on June 24, 2024. He is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur “Tarzan” and Sara White and his son Richard “Cucho” White. He was born in Colorado Springs but called Jamestown, AL, home. He never tired of gazing upon Lookout Mountain regardless of how many mornings he woke up to its beauty.

Butch ran around with friends who had nicknames like Possum and Goober. He tagged along for countless miles in the old turquoise GMC with Tarzan at the wheel driving to “wrastling” matches. It was the childhood stuff of dreams. And then came Ft. Payne High School where he graduated in 1965. After trying out the University of Alabama, he enlisted in the Navy. In January of his fourth and final year of service, he met his future wife, Olga, at a USO dance in Puerto Rico when in a crowded room, she offered him the empty seat next to her. The rest, as they say, is history. They were married eight months later and moved back to Butch’s beloved Jamestown where they commuted to Jacksonville State University. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in English. He always did write the best letters.

Butch was “toting bricks” the day their first child, Cucho, was born. Wendy came a few years later while he was working at the Unemployment Office. After being in Jamestown for twelve years, Olga finally convinced her better half to move to the big city of Montgomery and take a job with the USPS where he “stuck mail” until he retired in 2009. They were married 54 years and were blessed with four delightful grandchildren who lovingly referred to Butch as Abuelo. They had a string of countless kitties who didn’t always have a name but might have their own theme song. There were endless late-night games of Spanish Scrabble. Music echoed through the house from the piano keys he played.

Butch was the most patient guy who was content watching the grass grow, much to Olga’s chagrin when there were chores to be done. But his patience made him the perfect person to read stacks of books to the kids in his life without ever hurrying through a chapter. He was known for his wonderful sense of often silly humor and his always gentle demeanor, which was often the exact opposite of his feisty Puerto Rican wife’s. We will miss him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s

Research or to Queen of Mercy Catholic Church in Montgomery, AL.

A family and friends visitation for Butch will be held Sunday, July 14, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Leak Memory Chapel 945 Lincoln Road Montgomery, AL 36109. A graveside service will occur Monday, July 15, 2024 from 11:30 AM at Alabama National Cemetery 3133 Hwy 119, Montevallo, AL 35115.