Roll Call Tribute

James D. "Decker" White 

August 26, 1928 - July 22, 2024 

A month shy of completing 96 years, James Decker White lived a meaningful and joyful life. He died in Mooresville, NC of natural causes related to aging.

Decker had the mind of an engineer. He could not only assemble or repair a vacuum cleaner, electrical system, or modern-day barbecue pit, but could also go into great detail explaining exactly how they worked. His mind was like a Google search engine. Decker could tell you where every country in the world is located, the numbers for every interstate highway in the United States, the capital of every country and state, the dates of historic events, and he could even remember the names of all his childhood friends and teachers, their birthdates, and the dates they died.

Decker’s adventure began in Texarkana, Arkansas, when he was born to Perry Merrill and Gladys Shelton White. He grew up in Maud, Texas, the second of seven children. Economic times were difficult in East Texas at that time, but his parents worked tirelessly to provide a good life for their children and encourage their educational advancement.

At age 16, Decker enrolled at Baylor University. He graduated with a degree in chemistry and a week later, at the age of 20, began a full-time position as a chemistry instructor at Texas A&M University. While teaching, he earned a master’s degree, and two days after his graduation, began a distinguished 43-year career with the global chemicals manufacturer, Union Carbide. His career took him and his family to Texas City and Brownsville, TX; Luling, LA, and Charleston, WV.

After a long spiritual search, in his early twenties Decker chose to be baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His faith in God and testimony of Jesus Christ guided the rest of his life. He was dedicated to his church work and served to the best of his abilities whether in a position of leadership, teaching, ministering, or taking care of a church building.

Although many might consider Decker reserved and somewhat shy, Gloria knew a different side of him that was determined and highly motivated when he wanted something. She caught Decker’s eye while working at her summer job as a hostess at the MIT Faculty Club in Boston, MA. He was at MIT for a continuing education course. For him, it was love at first sight; he quickly got to work wooing her. Gloria was shocked when he kissed her on their first date and asked her to marry him on their second date. They were married a year later, embarking on a life filled with accomplishments. He always congratulated himself on his choice. Gloria was by his side for 68 years and with her, he had a great impact on the lives of countless people through his roles as a professional engineer, husband, father, grandparent, Christian, and community volunteer.

Decker and Gloria had five children: Mark, Sheryl, Keith, Darren, and Kristin. All became self-sustaining, successful, and devoted to their parents. The parental goal was to teach them the skills and provide the education to eventually make themselves useless to their children. As a result, none of those kids ever lived in their basement or had their cell phone bills paid by them.

Decker’s retirement from Union Carbide was just the beginning of a new chapter that affected countless more lives. Decker and Gloria moved to Williamsburg, VA, and from there volunteered for missions with the Church over the course of 8 ½ years. This included teaching leadership training classes in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and volunteering at the church’s Washington, D.C. temple. In the San Francisco and Sacramento, CA areas, they taught religion classes, job search, and money management skills. Decker’s legacy of hard work and volunteerism will live on through his descendants and the beneficiaries of his service.

He exhibited an iron will and determination to conduct as normal a life as possible in his twilight years in Mooresville, NC, socializing with friends on his front porch, and religiously attending chair aerobics, tai chi, and Sunday church services each week.

His family will fondly remember that he never met a cookie he wouldn’t eat and the smile on his face when he enjoyed crumbled cornbread in a bowl of buttermilk.

Decker is survived by his wife Gloria Selian White, his children Sheryl (Henry) Bonilla, Keith (Susan) White, Darren White, Kristin (Darren) Zobrist, daughters-in-law Cydney White and Linda White, 14 grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Mary Fern Richardson, Rosalind (Hal Dean) Lorance, his brothers Richmond (Jane) and Wade (Myra) White. He is currently enjoying a beautiful reunion with his beloved son Mark, brothers Dr. Perry (Kay) White and Dr. Benjamin (Shirley) White, and his brother-in-law Rex Richardson who predeceased him.