William (Bill) David White (1924-2023)
William (Bill) David White, age 99, a World War II veteran and 60-year resident of Orinda, passed away after a brief illness on March 2.
Bill proudly served as a fighter pilot Captain in the South Pacific during World War II, earning a Purple Heart flying the iconic Lockheed P-38. He carried a lifelong love for airplanes and would stop whatever he was doing to identify any plane flying overhead.
Bill’s true passion was restoring cars, mostly British MG’s and Jaguars. He could be found, during most of his free time, with his head inside an engine compartment in his garage surrounded by his vast collection of parts and tools. There were never less than two or three car projects going on at any one time and several other beloved cars waiting their turn for restoration.
His two daughters recall doing homework or studying for final exams sitting in a car helping their dad bleed brakes or test headlights. The car hobby was shared with Bill’s close brother, Jack, of Southern California, and united the two families of cousins through car shows, races, rallies and vacations focused around this passion.
Summers spent in Baker City, Oregon, visiting Bill’s mother and family, often resulted in the discovery of the next project car which had to be gingerly driven or trailered back home to California.
Bill was born in Pendleton, Oregon in 1924. After the military, he attended Pasadena Community College where he spent several years. He transferred to UC Berkeley, married and settled in the Bay Area where he worked as a fire protection engineer and made lifelong friendships. Bill loved the Bay Area and constantly referred to his life as “living in paradise.”
Bill was a character with a great sense of humor. Friends and family all have favorite Bill-stories and sayings that always bring laughter and smiles to their faces.
Bill is survived by his devoted daughters, Lauren White and Elizabeth Monti (née White); sons-in-law Steve Shea and Mark Monti; grandson Charlie Kokernak and wife Charlotte; niece Janet Steinbach and nephews Mat and John White. Bill will be greatly missed and fondly remembered.
Donations in William D. White’s honor can be made to The Orinda Association.
