Our Daddy, Buddy Gerald White, long-time resident of Dripping Springs and Austin, unexpectedly passed from this life on Monday, August 8, 2011. He was born in Breckenridge, Texas on July 5, 1932, the only child of Andrew Jackson White and Odell Rippetoe White
Buddy lived in Fort Worth, Texas with his mother until 1946 when he moved to Dripping Springs to live with his grandparents on Bear Creek He attended Dripping Springs High School where, in 1949, he was the quarterback of the only undefeated and untied Tiger football team that went on to win the 6-Man State Championship that year. As Daddy liked to say…"1949 was the last year they HAD a football team".
Buddy married his high school sweetheart, Betty Lois Pope in 1952 and they had two daughters, Diane and Janet. He attended St. Edwards University and then transferred to the University of Texas where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering in 1958. He went to work with his father in the oil fields of Mineral Wells, Texas. Buddy turned to carpentry and from there branched out into residential construction and land development. He always advised to turn your house to catch the prevailing south breeze. The beautiful log cabin he had built and enjoyed for so many years can still be seen from Hwy. 290, just past the Polo Club.
Daddy was a “renaissance man” in many respects. He loved reading and music. The mandolin was his instrument of choice and a good cat was his animal of choice. He loved chess and, in Las Vegas, was a well know Baccarat player. He loved golf and won an Amateur Championship at the Lakeway Golf Club in the 1970’s. He was an excellent cook and loved good food, wine and a great cigar.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father and the two cats that were his long-time companions, Charlie and Susie.
He is survived by his ex-wife and best friend, Betty White; daughters, Diane Williamson and husband, Joe of Austin and Janet White and husband, Eric Ellquist of Spokane; three grandchildren, Rebecca Torres, Andrew Williamson and Jesse Ellquist; and three great-grandchildren, Analisa Torres, Audra Torres and Elizabeth Williamson.
The family will receive friends from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Saturday August 13, 2011 at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Funeral Home. There will be no other service.
Daddy, when the south wind blows across my porch…….we will always think of you.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18