Arlen Dale “Pete” White passed peacefully at home with family at his side on Thursday, March 20th, 2025, following a brief but courageous battle with cancer.

Born January 8th, 1951 in Ava, Illinois to Albert D. and Margaret Maxine (Williamson) White, Pete was their third child and only boy. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Elverado High School in 1969.  Throughout his life Pete was best known as a Class A Truck Driver but was truly a jack of all trades.  He worked in the coal mines out West, managed a night club in Utah and was a manager for U-Haul in Cortland and Auburn. He also worked as a welder, having his shop first under the carport of the house, and then in their garage on Orchard Street. Pete was always one to tinker, doing some wood working making beautiful trunks and loved to make wooden spoons for his “Favorite Mother in-law”, Tink; and enjoyed making giant pots, for growing almost anything and everything that could be canned.

Pete was always a fantastic cook and while his smoked, grilled or barbequed meats were always a hit, he was best known for his baking of Italian cream cakes, pineapple upside down cake, and especially his amaretto cheesecake and varieties of holiday fudge. In recent years he would make salsa, ketchup, chili sauce and fruit butters to can and would often be found Friday mornings in season at the produce auction in Ovid. Always a fan of Harley Davidson motorcycles, he had a trike for a bit, which brought him much joy. When his knees would no longer let him ride the trike he invested in a lifelong dream car, a 1946 Ford sedan, like what his father had.

Pete is survived by his wife of 41 years, Linda (Kniffen) White; his eldest son, Aaron (Tiffany) White of New Mexico; daughter Katelyn (Michael) Bonner of Auburn; and youngest son, Adam White also of Auburn; his two beautiful grandchildren; Elizabeth White of New Mexico and Morgan Bonner of Auburn; and his sister Elaine White Ude; and niece Jill, both of Tennessee; his cousin Richard (LeAnn) White of Illinois, who was much more like his brother; along with two beloved puppy “girls” Lucy and Ethel. Additionally, his loving extended family, Mother in-law, Evelyn “Tink” Kniffen who could easily be called his biggest fan, with exception of his grandson; sisters and brothers-in-law Nancy (Timothy) Stephenson, Mary Kniffen, Thomas Kniffen and William (Andrea) Kniffen; along with several nieces and nephews.

He leaves behind many loved friends and slew of ‘adopted’ kids and grandkids. They would fondly call him by a myriad of nicknames, from "Old-man" and "Pops" to "Papa White" and "Santa Papa".  

He was predeceased by his parents Ab and Maxine White; sister Karen Davis; brothers-in-law Fred Davis and Marvin Ude; and father-in-law Ross Kniffen.

Pete never met a stranger and would do anything to help someone out. If you ever had the pleasure of going to the White’s house, you know that you would be offered a drink and would be well fed, and if you declined, he would tell you “If you leave here hungry, it’s your own damn fault!”

Pete did not want formal services as such there will not be any. He had originally wanted to celebrate his life with everyone, but sadly we will all celebrate with him in spirit at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Marcellus Ambulance Volunteer Emergency Services, Inc. (M.A.V.E.S) 3707 Lee Mulroy Rd, Marcellus, NY 13108 marcellusambulance.org or Hospice of the Finger Lakes.