J ALFRED WHITE

Jan 7, 1953

J. Alfred White 65, of 82 Walnut street, a pioneer in local automotive mechanics, died at 1:10 a.m. today in St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville.

For 43 years he was associated with Keck-Gonnerman Co., automotive department and Keck Motor Co., and for most of the time was service superintendent.  When most Mt. Vernon-ites had their only knowledge of a gasoline-powered motor vehicle from the printed page, he built an automobile.

Mr. White had been ill since July when he suffered the first of a series of paralytic strokes.

Since the week before Thanksgiving he had hovered between life and death in St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville where his courage and tenacious hold on life amazed doctors and nurses.  The end came very peacefully.

The body is at the Weisinger Funeral Home in Mt. Vernon.  It will remain there until it is taken to St. Matthew's Catholic Church for Requirm High Mass at  8:15 a.m. Thursday.  Father Raymond B. Smith, St. Matthew's pastor, will officiate.  Burial will be in Bellefontaine cemetery.

Surviving are the wife, the former Eula Grant whose marriage to Mt. White took place 41 years ago the coming Valentine day; a son Alfred G. White - owner-operator of Palace Soda Shop in Mt. Vernon; four grandchildren; three sister, Mrs. Edward Finnegan, San Antonio, Tex; Mrs. Philip Stratman, St. Philips, and Miss Agnes White, Mt. Vernon, and two brothers, Robert C White, Houston, Tx; and Albert White, Wadsworth, Ohio.

Born in Ridgeway, Illinois a son of Robret H White and Mary DeVous White, the deceased came to Mt. Vernon at an early age and had resided here since.

He was not only a skilled mechanic but an exemplary citizen as well whose genial personality, keen sense of humor and high ideals had endeared him to the Mt. Vernon Community.

*old scrapbook - local paper unknown

Deaths - Funerals

J. Alfred white

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday morning for J. Alfred White 65, Mt. Vernon, a pioneer in automotive mechanics who died early Tuesday in St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville.

The body is at the Weisinger funeral Home in Mt. Vernon.  It will remain there until it is taken to St. Matthew's Catholic Church for Requiem High Mass at 8:15 a.m. Thursday.  Father Raymond B. Smith, St. Matthew's pastor, will officiate.  Burial will be in Bellefontaine cemetery.

Keck Motor Co., garage, where Mr. White was employed for many years as service superintendent, will be closed Thursday morning.

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Originally submitted by Betty Sellers