Joe White

AMERICA THE GREAT MELTING POT

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Joe White

Born: 19 Dec 1902 Dana, Vermillion Co., IN

Married: 28 Jun 1931 Indianapolis, Marion, IN

Died: 23 Feb 1989 Indianapolis, Marion Co. IN

FATHER

Earle White

MOTHER

Grace Shepard

WIFE

Elizabeth (Betty) Louise Zimmerly

CHILDREN

Joe White About 1930

Joe White
by Susan Brooke
Aug 2023

Joe White was born in Dana, Indiana on 19 Dec 1902. (1) in the house we knew as "Aunt Martha's". The family moved to Arcadia in 1908 and his youngest sister, Martha, was born there. In 1910 the family moved back to start building the "Brick House" on the property next to where Grace's father, Dr. Lewis Shepard, lived.
The four children had an idyllic life growing up on the farm. They played together every day and became each other's best friends. Joe and Max spent many an hour fishing together. By the time Joe was old enough to crank up the car, about age 14, he drove all the kids into Dana for school and parked the car in a heated garage down the road. Before that they had gone to school by horse and buggy.
Joe went to Rose Poly in Terre Haute, Indiana and became an electrical engineer. After graduation he went to Dayton for a short time where he worked for Dayton Electronic Laboratories. Later they merged with Remy Brothers forming Delco Remy in Anderson, Indiana.
Joe moved to Anderson, Indiana in 1926 and met the young schoolteacher, Elizabeth (Betty) Zimmerly. He lived at the YMCA with several other young engineers and lived on a strict budget so he could save enough to get married. (2) Finally the young couple decided to get married on 28 Jun 1931. (3) . Betty told Joe not to play golf on their wedding day since it was so hot. 104* They were marrying in Indianapolis in the afternoon, but Joe and his brother, Max White, and Betty's brother, Richard Zimmerly, decided to play golf in Anderson anyway. They were only going to play 9 holes and there would be plenty of time to get to Indianapolis on time. HOWEVER, Joe made a hole in one on the sixth hole, the only hole in one he ever made in his lifetime, and the foursome had to play the whole 18 holes for the hole in one to be counted at the Grandview Country Club. So, they hurried through the rest of the course, got to the wedding late, and caused an amazing stir at the reception as everyone came through the reception line congratulating the groom on his hole in one.
Joe was the horn engineer for Delco Remy in Anderson, Indiana, a division of General Motors, for many years. He worked on many patents and helped develop the horn. Joe always liked to tinker and take things apart to see how they worked. He also made all his own arrows for hunting deer in Michigan with bow and arrow. He enjoyed the hiking part but never actually shot an arrow at a deer although he did occasionally shoot rabbits.
In 1955 the family moved to California. Joe worked for Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica. Upon retirement they moved to Rancho Bernardo, California until Betty died in 1980. Joe a few years later moved to Indianapolis to be closer to his sisters and daughter. He died in Indianapolis on 23 Feb 1989 at the age of 86. (4) He was buried next to his wife back in San Diego, CA. (5)

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