Celebrant Pam Meily Vetter


	Celebrating Life Everyone Has A Story...

Robert White was born in 1920 to his parents, Lurie and Ernest White, in San Diego. He was raised with one sister, Francis. Bob was an active, adventurous child. He was a boy scout who enjoyed climbing Mount Palomar. Bob played baseball in high school and even played against future baseball great Ted Williams. After graduating from high school in San Diego, he worked hard and earned a job selling cars. Pursuing higher education, he attended San Diego State where he performed as a cheerleader. He enjoyed his time in college, but he reached toward his dream of becoming a pilot.

In 1939, Bob voluntarily joined the United States Navy. Fulfilling his dreams, he became a pilot and flight instructor with the Navy, while he was based in Hawaii. From 1941 to 1942, he worked with the Federal Bureau of Investigations in the Fingerprint Department. He loved traveling with the Navy and met famous people along the way, such as actor Boris Karloff. During his time in the service, he received a commendation and service ribbons including a Letter of Commendation, the Asiatic Pacific Area Ribbon, American Defense Ribbon, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and Victory Ribbon. Continuing his service in the Navy Reserves, Bob retired as a Commander in July 1959. He was proud of his 20 years of service with the Navy.

While Bob was in the Navy, he met his future wife, Joan, at a bridge game in St. Louis, Missouri. The couple enjoyed music and they were both good dancers. Joan was serving in the Air Force at the time. The couple fell in love and in 1958 they married before a Justice of the Peace in Denver, Colorado. Bob always adored Joan. Ready to expand their family, over the next few years, the couple had two children, Pam and Mez. They loved being parents. As a father, Bob was wonderful. He was actively involved with Mez in Indian Guides. He coached and umpired Little League and he liked to hand out mints to the boys as treats. When Pam played softball in school, he went to all of her games. When Mez played in the Colt League, Joan and Bob sat in the stands at the Friday night games before heading to work at the restaurant. They were both dressed up, watching the game, while Bob had a cocktail in one hand and a cigar in the other. The party followed Bob wherever he went and he made people smile.

In 1960, Joan and Bob had purchased the Shore House Restaurant in Belmont Shores from the Bernsteins, who remain famous for their salad dressing. Bob ran the restaurant, while Joan worked as a junior high and high school teacher. The restaurant was always a family affair. As the kids got older, they helped at the restaurant. On weekends, Bob would bartend, Joan and Pam would hostess, and Mez would bus tables. The kids earned one dollar a night and they could eat anything except the lobster. The restaurant attracted regular customers who loved the steak and seafood, as Bob claimed he created surf and turf in the 60s. With the Shore House red menus, he offered two dinners for the price of one. The restaurant was a favorite to the locals and even had a piano bar and live entertainment. Bob was devoted to the restaurant business. He loved to count the money in the morning and he enjoyed spending time with his customers. He was really a people person. Although Bob retired from the restaurant business in 1975, he kept busy with work through 1985.

Traveling was very important to Joan and Bob. When the kids were young, the family went on an amazing trip to Jamaica. Bob loved to drive so he rented a dune buggy and the family did their own exploring in Jamaica. Another time, when the family was on the East Coast, they drove up to Niagara Falls. There were many special trips over the years to Mexico, Guadalajara, Australia, and Bermuda. Joan and Bob enjoyed several cruises and trips to Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Germany and other countries. They enjoyed a memorable trip to the Holy Land in Bethlehem and they did a lot of traveling with Joan's sisters and their spouses. Chic, Marty, Tom and Pat had great times traveling with them. The six of them were very close.

Bob was a meat and potatoes kind of guy, and he was fortunate that Joan was a gourmet cook. They had gourmet parties once a week at home. Joan and Bob loved going to the Hollywood Bowl with the family to see big bands play favorite songs of the 50s. While everyone else had dainty flutes and champagne flowing, Joan and Bob brought along a cheese tray and a half-gallon of Rum, half-gallon of Bourbon, and a half-gallon of Scotch. They lived life their way and had great fun listening to the music at the Bowl. Bob loved Joan so very much. He lavished her with fabulous jewelry and loved giving her gifts. He kissed her often and he wanted to do things for her because he adored her.

With many interests, Bob loved to play golf. He was a charter member of the Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. He enjoyed playing golf with a group of guys called the Bandits. He even got Mez interested in golf, which became Mez's business for 20 years. Bob liked watching sports, especially the Lakers. Throughout the years, Bob also loved dogs, as his Bassett Hounds were a big part of the family.

Bob enjoyed big band and swing music as he and Joan could really cut a rug and dance. He liked songs by the Mills Brothers, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw. Bob would sing along to the songs and he often sang "Oh, Danny Boy." Bob enjoyed a good party and his favorite drink was Bourbon and soda. He loved playing Bridge with his friends and became a Life Master in the game of Bridge, which is the highest level of Bridge achievement.

All of the holiday family gatherings were held at Joan and Bob's home. Bob loved life and he loved being around his family. Everyone was welcome in his world. His home was perfect for entertaining and he had a beautiful backyard. Bob planted an avocado tree in the backyard in the 1960s that remains an incredible producer of fruit to this day.

Family was the best thing in Bob's life. He loved it when Pam moved in for a while when the kids were little. Known as Papa to his grandchildren, Bob loved showing his grandkids the world as they were growing up. He'd take them to the beach and on deep sea fishing trips. There were several trips to Mexico and he'd rent a Charter boat for fishing. Back home, he loved walking around the block with his grandchildren and he enjoyed treating them to tin roof sundaes. For Christmas, he was generous. He'd pass out hundred dollar bills for Christmas, which made it fun. Bob was simply a fun-loving, jolly, giving guy.

Bob's family will miss his demeanor, his presence and everything about him because he was good to be around. He will best be remembered as a colorful character. He was the epitome of a host in every aspect of his life. In fact, everything was a party. His life was a party and his work was a party. Everything was good and positive. He was so full of goodness, beyond nice, and always made you feel good when you visited by saying, "I'm so glad you're here." He was also accommodating asking, "What are you drinking?" With many favorite sayings, Bob often asked visiting family, "Aren't you going to spend the night?" When you'd leave the house, he'd say, "Don't let the dog out." People were always important to him. He called every woman "dear" or "sweetheart." When he ate meals, he'd give a simple, little blessing saying, "God bless this food and all those who are about to partake of this food."

A handsome, good guy, Bob White was a hard worker who lived life to its fullest. He did what he wanted to do in life. He adored his wife, Joan, loved his family and loved his restaurant. Joan organized photo albums showing that Bob liked to laugh and smile his way through life. Every day was a celebration. Bob loved being active. Even later in life, he'd get up every day and do something, even if it was just to go for a drive. Looking back over his life, he never had any regrets because he did and said all the things everyone else wanted to do and say. He lived life his way. His advice to his family would be to "spend the night" one more time, bringing everyone together.

Bob is loved and remembered by his wife Joan; daughter Pam and son-in-law Greg; son Mez and daughter-in-law Barbara; grandson James and his wife Roxanne; grandson Robert; granddaughter Jennifer; grandson Mez Jr.; sister Francis; extended family and friends.

Memorial donations are welcome in Bob White's name to the American Cancer Society (http://www.cancer.org).