Harry White

Harry attended Classen High School in Oklahoma City graduating in 1937. Following graduation he attended Pasadena Junior College and Oklahoma City University.

On November 16, 1940 he was inducted into the army and served with the 45th Division. He transferred to the Army Air Force, graduating from aviation cadets and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in May of 1943. During the Second World War Harry was the pilot of a C-47 based in Italy. He flew personnel and equipment from Italy to the partisans fighting the Germans in Yugoslavia. This was an extraordinarily dangerous assignment for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Harry married Billye Griffy in May 1945. They enjoyed a loving and supporting relationship until Billye’s death in December 2001.

Following his discharge, Harry joined Oklahoma Gas and Electric in their purchasing department in July of 1945. He made many life-long friends among his associates at OG&E. He remained there until his retirement in February 1981.

Harry enjoyed many activities. He and Billye were avid OU football fans for 30 years, seldom missing a home game and attending several bowl games. Harry also enjoyed golf, playing frequently and watching tournaments on TV. Harry was passionate about the cars he drove. He chose them carefully and maintained them exquisitely.

Harry was a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation. In November 2008 Harry, along with other Chickasaw WW2 veterans, participated in a Chickasaw Nation sponsored trip to Washington D.C. to visit the National WW2 Memorial.

Harry is survived by a sister-in-law, Betty Wagner; two brothers-in-law, Ted Griffy and Tom Griffy; as well as three generations of nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Wanda Baxter for the patient support she has provided Harry in his last years and Dee Riley for the loving care she has provided during this period.