Ervin E. White

Ervin E. White, age 81, of Decorah, IA, died Saturday, December 12, 2009 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah. Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, December 15, 2009 at First United Methodist Church in Decorah by Rev. Carol A. Kress. Inurnment will be at Phelps Cemetery in Decorah in the spring of 2010 with full military honors. Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah is in charge of arrangements. Ervin Earl White was born March 4, 1928, the son of Earl L. and Mabel E. (Thornton) White in Decorah, Iowa. He graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1946. Ervin was united in marriage to Donna Hairston on February 3, 1949 at Fort Riley, Kansas. To this union one son was born, Greg. Ervin entered the United States Army in 1946, served for 26 years and earned the rank of E-7 (Sergeant First Class). He served in Germany, Ethiopia, Thailand, Cambodia, Alaska and Alexandria, Virginia. After his discharge from the Army, he worked as a Security Officer with the Military Police on Cameron Station in Alexandria. He moved to Decorah in 1990 and then moved to Tucson, Arizona due to Donna’s health. Ervin moved back to Decorah after Donna’s death. Ervin liked to golf, play Bingo at the VFW and play the slot machines. He loved to read, enjoyed football (Washington Redskins), bowled and he liked kids. He played Santa Claus at the military base in Ethiopia and was the Fire Chief there, amongst all of his other duties. He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna on October 15, 1997; his parents, Earl & Mabel White; two brothers, Gerald and Richard; and two sisters-in-law, Darlene White and Mamie White. Ervin is survived by his son, Greg (Linda) White of Chesapeake, Virginia; his granddaughter, Ashli (Brian) Pack of Smithfield, Virginia; his former daughter-in-law, Kathy Pond of Smithfield, Virginia; one brother, Don (Bev) White of Decorah; one sister-in-law, Susan White of Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin; numerous nieces and nephews; and the crew at Mabe’s restaurant.