Norman Eugene White, 85, of West Richland, died Wednesday, February 24, 2010, at Kadlec Regional Medical Center, with his wife of 61 years, Frances, holding his hand and caressing his tired brow. Also in attendance were son and daughter-in-law, Bryon and Eileen, and his favorite daughter, Cheryl. In spite of the best efforts of the doctors and nurses at Kadlec, Norman could not overcome complications that followed two recent surgeries.

Norman was born to Earl Raymond and Helga Wilhelmina Bjorklund White on March 4, 1924, in Spokane. Suffering multiple ear infections as a child and losing considerable hearing, he attended the Edna Davis School for the Deaf, making several lifelong friends. Norman was one of two students at the school to be "mainstreamed" into Spokane's Rogers High School, graduating in 1942 as "Most Gallant Boy." After graduation, Norman enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was discharged under honorable conditions in 1944.

Norman had a large and extended family: sister Betty Cline, half brother Bob Sanders, half sister Audrey Sanders, and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Norman married Frances Eunice Donohoe in Kennewick, on February 18, 1949, in between a snowstorm and a Chinook wind. Two sons and a daughter completed Norman's family – Shawn Raymond, Bryon Robert, and Cheryl Eunice. Later came two daughters by marriage, Diane Snedeker and Eileen Evans; two grandchildren, Kendal and James; and three great grandchildren, Caitlyn, Shawn, and Hayden. Second only to Norman's love of his family was his love of Sacheen Lake, north of Spokane. From the age of 12 until selling the property in the late '80s, Sacheen Lake was Norman's home away from home.

Norman and Frances made a home for their family in Richland for 30 years. Norman was a firefighter for the Hanford Fire Department, retiring from Rockwell in 1977. After retirement, he joined his brother-in-law Bob Donohoe in a business venture in Iran, which ended with the fall of the Shah in 1978. After Norman returned to the U.S., he and Frances made their home in Spokane. They came to West Richland in 2000, to be closer to family and be the personal daycare providers for their grandson James.

Norman was a member of the International Order of Foresters, was a Parent-Teacher Association volunteer, and was an active member of Central United Protestant Church in Richland and Central United Methodist Church in Spokane; most recently he was a member of Northwest United Protestant Church in Richland.

Norman was predeceased by his parents, siblings, and "Number One" son Shawn.

A celebration of Norman's life will be held on Saturday, February 27, at 11:00 a.m. at NWUP, 1312 Sacramento Blvd, Richland. Inurnment will be on Monday, March 1, 1:00 p.m., at Fairmount Cemetery, in Spokane.

Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice in Norman's name.