Sunday April 14, 2024
On Sunday April 14th, 2024, Paul White died just outside the Maggie Valley Nursing Home…waiting until he was to be loaded in the ambulance. Refusing to die in the home and would never have stood for the hospital either. He tricked us all and found a way to pass in the brisk air of the April morning.
Paul was born in Maggie Valley June 4, 1942, to Cliff and Myrtle Decker White, graduated from Waynesville Township High School and quickly left for the US Air Force. As a radar specialist in Aiken SC, he met his first wife. They moved back to Maggie after he was discharged. Paul joined Northwestern Bank and opened the first branch in Maggie. He was active in many endeavors the Valley had including the Kiwanis Club, Chamber of Commerce and worked with many business owners and friends to get Maggie established as not only a vacation destination but a place to have a thriving livelihood. After leaving the bank, he dabbled in real estate and became the merchandising manager for Ghost Town in the Sky and Frontier Land. He later left Maggie for Florida. While in Florida, he did many things including solar panel installation and started his first garbage collection service. Upon his return to Maggie in 1985, he continued his garbage business and had Mountaineer Sanitation that his friends fondly called White Trash. He picked right back up pushing the Valley to be successful by serving on various boards. He loved his friends fiercely and enjoyed many rounds of darts, laps at NASCAR races, afternoons at the Meat Skin and trips out west.
He became a part of his garbage customers’ families. He served them for over 37 years. He loved his service to the Valley, and they loved him. He mourned his inability to continue when dementia started to rob him of his memory…and would have to be reminded daily that he really was retired and would not go on his route.
Paul leaves behind a daughter Amy Sparks (Barry), a son Lee (Shelley), 3 grandchildren Ellis, Grace and Zeb Forga and a great-granddaughter Huntlee Blaine Burch.
The family would like to thank the staff at the Maggie Valley Nursing Facility for their fabulous care of Paul.
A memorial service will be held at Peachtree Community Church, Thursday, April 18th at 3:00 pm. Following the service Amy, Lee, Ellis, Grace and Zeb invite all friends and family to join them at BearWaters in Maggie Valley for drinks and laughter…Paul’s favorite.
Garrett Funerals and Cremations is caring for the White family. www.garrettfuneralsandcremations.com
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