Ward H. White, 83, father of Sydney Marsh White and Caroline Kendall White (Kendall), passed away on September 29, 2023 at his Washington residence in the company of his daughters. Mr. White was a dedicated father, husband of Sheila B. White (deceased), and grandfather to Brett Peyton Paukstis and Rosalita Beck Paukstis (Rosy); son and daughter of Kendall White and Greg Paukstis. Mr. White was preceded in death by his brother, Brett Allan White of Los Angeles, California and is survived by his youngest brother, Daniel Fagan White, of Paige, Texas.
Mr. White was revered professionally and treasured by friends and family. He had a positive impact on many people's lives and careers through his support, advice, and encouragement. He was tremendously proud of and engaged with his daughters and his grandchildren Brett and Rosy, always making time for them above all else. He never missed a Saturday soccer game, Sunday flag football game, or school chapel at the Washington National Cathedral.
Mr. White was an avid outdoorsman, expert horseman, fly fisherman, and waterfowl hunter enjoying these past times as a youth in Kansas and at the family home in Estes Park, Colorado, and Cambridge, Maryland later in life. He loved tennis and supported his girls, Sydney, Kendall, and Sheila in their competitive tennis.
Mr. White was a lawyer and legendary lobbyist for the telecommunications industry. Born in Russell, Kansas, the same town as US Senator Bob Dole, for whom he later worked, Mr. White was instilled with the values that made him successful in life. He was principled, always demonstrated great character, and his dry wit never left anyone without a humorous Ward story.
Mr. White worked in Washington for first US Representative and then Senator Dole beginning in the summers while he attended American University and then full time. While in Washington, Mr. White met his wife Sheila who was on the staff at the Republican National Committee. The Whites were married in 1964. Mr. White attended Cornell Law School and clerked for the Kansas Supreme Court. In 1966, the Whites moved to Sacramento, California, where Mr. White served as a JAG Officer in the US Air Force during the Vietnam War (including a deployment in South Korea).
The Whites returned to Washington, DC in 1969, where Mr. White joined the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee as senior counsel on communications working for Senator Howard Baker and then Chairman Bob Packwood. During that time, White spearheaded major telecommunications bills that became law. Mr. White joined the US Telephone Association in 1985 as Vice President and in 1995, BellSouth as Vice President for Federal Relations where he made significant legislative contributions to the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
Ward White embraced the values of hard work and generosity. The impact he had on other people's lives will always be remembered. A memorial service is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Friday, November 10, 2023, at St. Columba's Episcopal Church in Washington, DC. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. White's memory may be made to the Estes Park Medical Center https://eph.org/give-volunteer/donate/ (gift designation should be In Lieu of Flowers) or to the All Hallows Guild https://allhallowsguild.org/get-involved/donate/ Landscaping Fund.
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