F. Leon White, 75, of Centralia passed away on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, at the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca.

Leon was born on February 18, 1941, in rural Vermillion, to Fred and Trula Lucille (Morrison) White. He attended Windy Ridge and Mulberry Elementary Country Schools and graduated from Centralia High in 1959. After school Leon went to work for Pawnee Iron works, and then for the State of Kansas doing surveying.

On April 16, 1966 Leon married Dorothy Rempe at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning. After they were married Leon went to work for McBratney Implements in Centralia. In 1969 he started his own business called White’s Town and Farm Service and operated it for 35 years. After he retired he went to work as a custodian for USD 380 in Centralia for 10 years after he retired from the school he went to work part time for Nemaha County Coop.

He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and the Centralia Jaycees; he was a past member and president of Young Farmers and Businessmen, the Centralia Fire Department where he was also the chief for several years, the Centralia City Council for several years and was on the Council while the Centralia Lake was being built, the Centralia Ball Association and helped coach girls softball and was a FFA advisory committee member.

Leon loved to weld and taught several the trade. He loved to problem solve and figure out how to fix equipment that wasn’t working or to build something from nothing he built several two wheel tilt trailers and lawn swings. Leon was always willing to help other and continued to help others by being a tissue donor.
He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Trula White and a brother Jim in 2000

Leon is survived by his wife of 50 years, Dorothy; a daughter, Rhonda (Bret) Frakes of Valley Falls, Kansas; two sons, Ryan (Annette) White of Solider, Kansas and Russell (Jennifer) White of Linwood, Kansas; a sister, Norma (Val) Henton of Dodge City, Kansas; a brother, Harry of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas; and 8 grandchildren, Brittany Frakes, Christina & Katie Kelsey, Megan & Miley White, Erika, Jodi and Jason White. One great-granddaughter Briley Wells.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, May 23, 2016 at 10:30AM at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Corning. Burial will be in the St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Corning. Rosary will be prayed on Sunday at 4 PM followed by a visitation at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca.

Memorials are for Centralia Fire Department and the Centralia EMT’s sent in care of the family. To express your sympathy and for more information visit www.lauerfuneralhome.com .