John Cecil White (John) passed away peacefully at the age of 79 on Thursday April 5, 2012 at Wyndham Manor in Oakville.

John will be dearly missed by Margaret, his wife of 55 years; his children Andrew (Leslie), Michael (Diane), Philip (Michelle) and Timothy (Teresa); his eleven grandchildren: Meghan, David, Biniyam, Lauren, Stephen, Christopher, Emilie, Matthew, David, Caleb and Evan as well as his two great grandchildren: Amanda and Gabriella. John is lovingly remembered by his sisters, Mary (Claude) and Janet (Ian), and his sister in law Diane. He was predeceased by his brother in law Claude and his brother David.

John was born in Margate England, the son of Cecil and Lily White. His father died when John was a young teenager so Lily raised her four children alone. As a young child he was evacuated during the Second World War and spent two years living away from his parents and the threatened coast of England. He studied engineering at the Royal School of Mines in London England financing his education by working summers on his hands and knees mining coal from narrow seams. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in 1954 and moved to Canada to take a position with a gold mine in Red Lake, Ontario. After two years he traveled back to England to marry his college sweetheart, Margaret (nee Barrow) and bring her to Canada. After five years John, Margaret and Andrew moved to Murdochville where their remaining three sons were born. In Murdochville he worked with Noranda's Gaspe Copper Mine, eventually becoming one of the most respected and knowledgeable mining executives in Canada. In 1996 he was awarded the Inco award "in recognition of his tremendous leadership and vision in championing advanced mining technology and the utilization of novel technical tools, while demonstrating genuine empathy for fellow workers at all levels in the best tradition of builders of mines and communities in Canada". He concluded his career as a Group VP responsible for a number of Noranda's operations including important mining developments in Timmins, Sudbury and Chile.

A true gentleman, John was a kind, thoughtful, respectful, humble, self-sacrificing, hard working man of high integrity. He was quick to help out others in need and tireless at being helpful in whatever situation he found himself. John left his legacy of church and community service wherever he lived: building a health clinic in Ignace; in Oakville supporting Habitat for Humanity and serving breakfast at a local school's breakfast club. He made the most of whatever diversions the outdoors offered where he happened to live through his peripatetic life: downhill skiing in Murdochville, cross country skiing in Ignace, salmon fishing on his second stay in Murdochville, golfing in Oakville. His other leisure pursuits included pottery making and wine making. He kept his sense of humour, his gratitude, selfless concern for others and pleasant manner throughout his final days.

In his final days, John received compassionate and loving care at Wyndham Manor in Oakville, for which the family is extremely grateful. In lieu of flowers the family requests that contributions be made in John's memory to his favourite charities: Sleeping Children around the World (http://www.scaw.org/)
and World Vision (http://www.worldvision.ca/Pages/welcome.aspx). The family invites friends & relatives to sign John's online guest book on this Kopriva Taylor website.

There will be a visitation on Thursday April 12 from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm at Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, Oakville, Ontario. A service of remembrance will be held at St Paul's United Church, 454 Rebecca Street in Oakville on Friday April 13 at 1:00 pm and a reception will follow immediately in St Paul's Watt Hall.