LANCE A WHITE – CLASS OF 1965

LANCE A WHITE – CLASS OF 1965

White, Lance Allan of Niles, Michigan

1942 – 2008

NILES - Lance A. White, 65, of Niles, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 27th, 2008, in Lakeland Hospital, Niles, Michigan.

Lance was born on September 23, 1942, in Santa Ana, California, to Leonard and Leona White. A 1960 graduate of Niles High School, Lance also obtained a B.S. from Western Michigan University and then served his country proudly in the U.S. Army from 1965 until 1967, stationed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

In 1972 Lance joined his father, Leonard, in the family business, White's Bowling Lanes. He owned and operated White's until he retired in April 2005.

Lance was a Mason and a member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge #4 Free and Accepted Masons, St Joseph Valley Chapter #2 Royal Arch Masons, Knights Templar Niles Commandery #12, Valley of Grand Rapids Scottish Rite 32nd Degree, Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids, where he served as past president and current secretary of the local Niles post. Lance also volunteered his time as a van driver for the Shrine Hospital in Chicago and Cincinnati.

In the spring and summer he enjoyed golfing, but when the fall weather hit his greatest passions were bird hunting and the Green Bay Packers. Lance also loved spending time with his granddaughters.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leonard White in 2005, and a grandson, Samuel Hover in 2004. Lance is survived by his wife, Karen of Niles; a daughter, Kelly White of South Bend; his mother, Leona White of St. Joseph; two stepsons, Adam (Melissa) Hover of Niles and Bradley (Nichole) Hover of Dowagiac; three granddaughters, Sophie, Stella and Nyla Hover; a brother, Arnie (Amy) White of St. Joseph; nephews, Alex and Lucas White; and a niece, Lyndsay White. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 31, at 11:00 a.m. in Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar Street, Niles, with Rev. Don Fleischman and Pastor Ed Slade officiating. Private graveside services will be held at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens at a later time. A visitation will be held today, July 30, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Brown Funeral Home, Niles. A Masonic service will be held at 8:00 p.m. in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made in Lance's memory to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2211 North Oak Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60707.