Edward Folsom White

Edward Folsom White, 96, passed away Thursday, November 14, 2019 at the Winfield Kansas Veterans Home, under the care of Kindred Hospice.

Funeral services will be held at 10 A.M. Wednesday, November 20 at the Maple City Community Church, with his nephew Rev. Jay Clapp officiating. A Military Burial will follow at the Maple City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4-6 P.M. Tuesday, November 19 at the Shelley Family Funeral Home of Arkansas City. Memorial contributions may be made to the VWF Post #1254 and Kindred Hospice, contributions may be left in care of the funeral home. Pall Bearers will be his nephews: John Clapp, Trey Clapp, Buddy Thomas, Nicholas Noble, Clint McClure and Trey Michael Clapp.

Ed was born on September 5, 1923 in Magazine, Arkansas the son of John Wesley White and Frances Willard (Folsom) White. Ed quit school to join the Navy when he turned 17, after the war was declared. He began active duty on February 20, 1942 serving on the USS Ralph Talbot destroyer in the US Navy. He was honorably discharged on November 11, 1945.

Ed’s father was the telegraph operator for the Rock Island Railroad in Magazine, Arkansas where he was raised and attended school. He inherited his father’s love of words and was an avid reader of Louis L’ Amour westerns. Ed enjoyed fishing, gardening and was a storyteller to anyone who had the time to listen to his detailed true stories about his war days and about all the ranches and ships he was the head cook on. He was the head chef on the USS Ralph Talbot and after the war became a chef at numerous ranches throughout the Western States.

Ed married Sue Dell on January 10, 1947 in Russellville, Arkansas and had a son, John Wesley White. The couple later divorced and Ed continued to travel the country as a chef on cattle ranches and ships in the Pacific. Ed made his permanent home in Cedar Vale in 1987 and was united in marriage to Vina Bowman on June 5, 1992 in Reno, Nevada, she preceded him in death in 2002. After his health started to decline he moved to the Veterans Home in March of 2016. He was a life-long member of the American Legion and VFW. Something he was very proud of was obtaining his High School Diploma from Booneville Arkansas in 2003. Ed loved visits from his nieces and nephews, he always had stories to share and also he made sure to have enough candy to pass out to each of them. Surviving immediate nieces and nephews include; Carlene Harbeson, Johnie Grace Duggan, Chris Christopher, Carl Clapp Jr., David Clapp and Frances Noble.

Survivors include his son John Wesley White and wife Anna of Arlington, TX; numerous nieces and nephews, including special niece Carma Olsen who he helped raise; and many lifelong friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Johnie Clapp and Eva Eubanks, and wife Vina.

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