February 21, 1933 – January 8, 2025
Ruppert Clyde White, better known as RC, was born at home near Climax, Georgia, but spent most of his youth a few miles from Faceville, Georgia, where he helped out on his family’s farm (when he was not hunting, fishing, and getting in to all the mischief available to a young boy in the midst of the Great Depression). After high school, he did a 4 year stint in the United States Air Force repairing, maintaining, and occasionally flying airplanes. While he was in service, he married his high school sweetheart, Joann Martin, and they later had two children, Minora and Ben.
He was a founding employee of Bainbridge Junior College, joining the maintenance department, which was supervising the construction of the campus building and facilities, later rising to be Director of Plant Operations. A few years after having lost Joann to a hard fought battle with cancer, he married a fellow employee, Secretarial Science instructor Bettye Hudson, becoming stepfather to her two sons, Joe and Harold.
After both he and Bettye retired from the college, they enjoyed many years traveling and dealing in collectibles, old tools, oddities, and antiques (or “good junk,” as he called it). When Bettye died suddenly, he was very much adrift in life without her. This was noticed by one of his sisters, who set him up on a blind date with Jeanne Ohlinger. They hit it off immediately and became inseparable, eventually leading to a marriage that lasted until his death.
Those who knew RC realized he was a kind person guarded by a gruff exterior. Not surprisingly, his upbringing instilled a strong work ethic, and he only seemed happy when he had some project to occupy his time. He was very handy and would work on just about any type of mechanical device if the need arose. RC was particular about things being done the right way, and that usually meant the “RC way,” which is a great trait when working on airplane engines but could occasionally drive his family up the wall. He will be greatly missed.
RC is survived by his wife, Jeanne Ohlinger, brother Dougulas (Joan) White, sisters Jeanette Pittman, Jean Dean, and Barbara (David Campbell) Crawley, daughter Minora (Vince) Edenfield, son Ben (Lisa Reeves) White, step sons Joe (Darlene) Hudson and Harold (Kate) Hudson, step daughters Flo (Julian) Braswell and Genia (Randy) Johnson and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by wives Joann White and Bettye White, brothers Franklin White, Jr., Herbert White, Terrel White, sisters Lucille Day and Betty White, and step daughter Jan Mejia.
Online condolences may be sent at www.coxiveyfuneralhome.com Cox-Ivey Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
