John Keith White, or “Jack” as he liked to be called, began his life Sept. 24,1931 in Yakima, Wash.

He was almost 90 when he finished the last eight months of his life in Olympia, just a few hours from the place he loved best, Whidbey Island, Wash.

He lived on Whidbey most of his life. He helped build his home off West Beach Road carefully choosing a lot that maximized his view of the entrance to Puget Sound.

As a young man he grew up with two sisters Joanette O’berg, who was a couple of years younger, and Nada Aksay, who was 14 years younger. He always loved the baby sister he helped raise. They contributed seven nieces and nephews. As a young man his father, also John White, introduced him to a lifelong love — golf. They enjoyed spending many hours on the different beautiful courses around Seattle. That love we all knew came first.

As he became a young adult he joined the Navy as an enlisted man. He showed himself to be a highly skilled individual with computers and calculations so became a bombardier navigator and made the Navy his life, rising to the rank of full lieutenant.

During the early years, he met and married Libby White, who had a son, Larry White, whom he adopted. They also had a daughter, Karen. They were married for 25 years, but the cruises of six to nine months a year took their toll and they divorced. He never remarried and shortly after that retired from the Navy after 20 years to follow his first love at the Country Club Golf Course. He won a few tournaments, enjoyed playing 18 holes, then the 19th in the bar, and watching sunsets off his deck. He played until his grip strength failed him so began to work as a greenskeeper on the course. During that time he gained four grandchildren, Josh, Cara, Ross and Meagan as well as their spouses and three great-grandchildren, Avy, Soren and Onyx.

In Olympia, before the accident that took his life, family from as far away as New York came to see him. He had grandchildren, nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and a great-grandchild. He may not have changed the world, but who knows — one of them may play golf.