Norma Ruth White, 78, died on February 20, 2020, in Dallas, TX, after a battle with cancer.
Norma was born on February 24, 1941, in Appleton, NY, to Walter Hetherly and Lucy (Jesson) Hetherly, who predeceased her. She also was predeceased by a brother, Raymond.
Norma married James N. White on Feb. 13, 1960, in West Somerset, NY. She traveled the world with her husband and children as he pursued a career in the U.S. Navy. Upon his retirement, they settled first in McAlester, OK, and then in Garland, TX, where they lived for many years before her passing.
Norma retired after 16 years of service to E-Systems in Garland, TX, as a document control clerk. Norma was a longtime volunteer with the Garland Police Department (GPD), where she donated thousands of volunteer hours in support of that agency’s administrative functions before she became too ill to continue. She graduated from GPD’s Citizen Police Academy twice, most recently as a member of Class No. 33.
She is survived by her husband; her sister, Jean Melick; two sons, Rick White (Mindy) and Dennis White (Lee); a grandson, Jon White; a niece, Julie Rosenbalm; and two nephews, Peter Melick and Bruce Melick.
Norma requested to be cremated and that no services be conducted. Her ashes eventually will be interred at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.