Ralph E. White of Freeland died June 9 at Swedish Medical Center due to complications from a stroke he suffered three days earlier.

Mr. White was born in Corinne, Utah, in 1917 and was a staff sergeant with the Army in Alaska, France and Germany during World War II. He was a retired sheet metal worker of Local Union No. 66.

He moved to Freeland in 1986 to build his own house and live a quiet retirement. His wish was to remain independent to the end, and he accomplished this.

He loved gardening and the outdoors, especially fishing the rivers of central Oregon and Washington.

Mr. White is survived by his family, Ralph D. White of Carmel, Calif., Francia E. White and her partner Ellen Waldinger-White of Amherst, Mass., and Monte R. White and his wife Lisa Bodeur White of Snohomish; and grandchildren Anne White, Matteo and Jeremy Waldinger-White and Cailin and Erin White.