Obituary of Clifford Arthur White

Leaving behind fond memories and sad hearts, Clifford "Cliff" Arthur White passed away at the Dr. Everett Chalmers Regional Hospital in Fredericton, NB the evening of March 12, 2021 at the age of 81, after a courageous battle against cancer. Cliff was born just before WW2 in Toronto, Ontario, on June 29, 1939. Many years later, his family moved to a farm near Brandon, Manitoba, where he undoubtedly gained the strong work ethic he was known for. After a stint in the Royal Canadian Air Force at a young age, Cliff decided that working with electronics was in the cards for him. In 1958 he married the love of his life, Audrey, and then they expanded their family to include two sons – Steven and Darren. During this time, Cliff worked for Westinghouse. He answered an ad for a position with IBM and changed careers– building, installing and maintaining the NORAD system in North Bay. Cliff and his family moved to North Bay, and perhaps this began his thirst for technological knowledge. Even at 81 years old, Cliff was far more tech-savvy than many folks- between e-mails, video calls on Skype and Facebook Messenger, and Facebook, it’s easy to see that keeping connected with family and friends was always of the utmost importance. With IBM, he moved in different positions and postings, until finally in 1980 he changed directions and became a Canadian Tire Dealer – taking ownership of his first store in Wingham, ON. In 1982, he upgraded to the Listowel, ON store, and then in 1991 he moved up again, purchasing the Oromocto, NB store, which he had until retirement in 2000. Cliff and Audrey started "pre-retirement trips" to Arizona in 1998, and once fully retired, spread their snowbird wings, and spent winters in Mesa until mid-season in 2019. They started their "Happy Hour" group at Mesa Regal and cultivated many lasting friendships over these years. Learning to curl at only 6 years old and golfing not long after that, Cliff belonged to many Golf & Curling Clubs over the years and was proudly a member of the Gage Golf & Curling Club in Oromocto for the last 30 years. Cliff was always active and an outdoorsman. He also loved fishing, hunting, hiking and photography; and he was an avid storyteller – his stories and travels are well-documented and will be passed down for many years. Predeceased by his parents, Arthur White (1968) and Frieda (Rowe) White (2002), Cliff is survived by his older brother Sydney Benjamin Donald (Don) White of Sherwood Park, AB; his two sons, Steven White of Vancouver, BC and Darren White of Oromocto, NB; his granddaughters Tracy (Chris) Coonce and Ashley (Derek) Hubbell both of Cold Lake, AB, his grandson Drew White of Vancouver, BC; and his three great-grandsons, Conner, Devin and Blake. With family and friends always being the most important thing to Cliff, he touched many hearts over his years and will be fondly remembered by many. Arrangements entrusted to Oromocto Funeral Home, 108 Winnebago Street, Oromocto, NB E2V 1C7 (506) 357-5100. At his wishes, there will not be a funeral. The family will do a private interment when regulations allow. Cliff requests that he be remembered fondly, with happy stories, not with tears. Donations in his memory can be made to the Canadian Cancer Society.