George E. White

March 6, 1924 - July 4, 2021

George E. White, 97, passed away July 4, 2021 in San Francisco, his native city. He was born March 6, 1924, to George M. and Margaret (Smith) White. Mr. White was a third generation San Franciscan and a fourth generation Californian, his mother’s family having arrived during the Gold Rush. Mr. White was a WWII combat veteran of the 70th Infantry Division and fought in the Ardennes region of France, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for Valor, the Purple Heart (two oak clusters) and the Combat Infantry Badge. He was a prisoner of war for the last months of the war in Europe. Following his discharge from the Army, he completed his education at Lick-Wilmerding High School and San Francisco State University, where he earned a degree in chemistry, and married Josephine Verzello, his wife of 75 years, who survives him. Mr. White had a distinguished career as an analytical chemist, serving as a referee

chemist for American Oil Chemists’ Society, and establishing and operating analytical laboratories in Nevada to serve the mining industry. Later in his career, Mr. White worked for the US Navy at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, and the US General Services Administration. He finished his career working for the City of San Francisco as a water quality chemist. During much of his professional career, he also served as a US Army reserve officer, retiring with the rank of major.

Besides his professional accomplishments, Mr. White had a lengthy record of public service. He was an elected official and police commissioner of Lovelock, Nevada. Mr. White had a lifelong interest in rail transportation and amassed a major photographic archive of Bay Area transit systems. He put his expertise to use as a member of the Caltrain Citizens Advisory Committee.

Mr. White will be remembered by all for his kindness, easy manner, competence, and dedication to any task he undertook. He will be remembered by his family as a loving husband and father.

He is survived by his wife Josephine, daughters Karen Cota and Joanne LeDuc, sons Lynn (Mary) and George (Barbara), seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to express its deep gratitude to the staff of Buena Vista Manor House and Grace Hospice for the excellent care they provided Mr. White.

Services will be held Sunday July 11 at Duggan’s Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Avenue, Daly City, CA: Visitation 4-5PM; Service 5PM. Private interment at the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.

Mr. White may be remembered by donations to the 70th Infantry Division Association Scholarship Fund https://www.trailblazersww2.org/scholarship.htm), The Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org), or a charity of your choice.