Charles Vines White Jr., 83, died on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2008, at his home.
He had a four-decade association with the local papers, retiring from both the Chattanooga Times and the Chattanooga News-Free Press. After retirement, he served as president of MTN, his family’s Southwestern Virginia mine-leasing corporation. He retired from MTN in 1998.
He was descended from the pioneer families Kelly, Paxton and White of Southwestern Virginia and from the Rhea and Cartright families of Rhea County, Tn.
Charlie was born in Chattanooga, March 27, 1925, the son of Charles Vines White Sr. and Eleanor Cartright White.
He graduated from Glenwood Elementary School Brainerd Junior High School, and was a member of the class of 1943 of Chattanooga High School. Outstanding in all areas of high school activities, he served as cadet colonel of ROTC during his senior year.
During his college years, Charlie worked as a reporter for the Chattanooga Free Press, writing feature stories that included accounts of Chattanoogans’ wartime servicemen.
He was an honor graduate of the University of Chattanooga where he was a member of Delta Chi, Blue Key, elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He taught air cadets calisthenics during World War II.
He and Mary MacClaren Coghlan were married Dec. 28, 1946.
Charlie was employed by Milne Chair Co., traveling the Southeastern states and Texas. After working at Chattanooga Venetian Blind Co., Charlie returned to the papers to work in advertising.
Charlie was a gentleman. He was known for his strong character, integrity and honor and dedication to his profession. He had a keen sense of humor. His timely puns his co-workers called “Charlie Whites.”
He was a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club, the Fairyland Club, the Alumni Council of the University of Tennessee at and served as board member of the Family Service Agency.
His hobby was his family. He attended or participated in all of his children’s church, sports and school activities, teaching Sunday school at Church of the Good Shepherd, coaching baseball and softball, hiking the Appalachian Trail, judging diving for the Fairyland Club swim team, supporting the YMCA Indian Guide program and Girl Scout camping. Athletic outings filled the childhoods of his three children.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Rhea Jackson White, and his sister, Elizabeth White Danner.
Survivors are his wife, Mary; son, Charles Vines (Shirley) White III; grandson, Charles Peyton (Kim) White; great-grandson, Dylan Kade White; great-granddaughter, Emily Faith White; daughter, Mary MacClaren White (Eck) Gruber; grandsons, Richard Alan Johnson Jr. and James Kelly Gruber; son, Robert Thomas White; sisters-in-law, Lenora Coghlan McCalley, Vera Young Coghlan and Jodie McAlpine White; brothers-in-law, Col. James Joseph Coghlan Jr. and Donald Danner; and several beloved nieces and nephews.
The family wants to thank Dr. Jack McCallie and Dr. Gill Jeong and Dr. Jitendra Ghandi and Hospice of Chattanooga.
A private family graveside service will be held at a later date.
Visitation will be at Wann Funeral Home from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday.
Memorials may be made to the Leah James Fund c/o The Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga Inc., 1270 Market St., Chattanooga, TN 37402.