BANGOR – James “Jim” White passed away peacefully June 22, 2024, in Bangor. Jim was born Jan. 31,1942 in Portland, to H. Parkman White and Letha (Clark) White. Jim spent his youth in Skowhegan enjoying many adventures on his parent’s poultry farm on Hilton Hill, and where he found his love of gardening and animals. Throughout his life, Jim had the most incredible green thumb, turning the tiniest of seeds into the most glorious fruits and vegetables.
Jim had a long career in the truck and tractor industry, working in his early years as a heavy equipment operator for Blue Rock Industries in Brunswick, building long stretches of the interstate, and would proudly tell you repeatedly “I built this road, you know.” After moving back to Skowhegan, he worked a variety of truck driving jobs, and knew his way around the state with his eyes closed. There wasn’t a stretch of roadway he couldn’t describe, and identify landmarks along the way. Long before the convenience of GPS, our family had our very own human version of navigational equipment in our dad.
Jim was a loving father and grandfather, and cherished the hours he had with his children and grandchildren. He spent his spare time in the evenings teaching his children to read, play board games, attended sporting events, and spoke with much love and pride of his children. He made a mean chocolate chip cookie, and could rival Paul Hollywood’s bread baking. There was seemingly nothing he couldn’t do, make, or fix, although there were times we might have looked a little puzzled at his unconventional methods.
No matter where Jim went, he always found a friend, always a conversation to be had. Even when overseas, he somehow managed to find a common topic with a random person in a random place, and made a fast friend. We always said, he never met a stranger. He believed in the goodness in others, and offered the same of himself, always.
Jim is survived by his partner, Alison Cox; his daughters Cathy Currier (Robert Currier), Terri Bray (William Bray), Danielle Gobel (Greg Gobel) and sons Jamie White (Kasie Sanborn), Benjamin White, and Robert White; his sister, Martha Mills; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jim was predeceased by his parents Parkman and Letha White.
