Obituary of Lance White

Lance A. White, 65, of Niles, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 27th, 2008 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles, Michigan. Lance was born on September 23, 1942 in Santa Ana, California to Leonard and Leona White. A 1960 graduate of Niles High School, Lance also obtained a B.S. from Western Michigan University and then served his country proudly in the U.S. Army from 1965 until 1967, stationed in Fort Wainwright, Alaska. In 1972, Lance joined his father, Leonard, in the family business, White's Bowling Lanes. He owned and operated White's until he retired in April 2005. Lance was a Mason and a member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge #4 Free and Accepted Masons, St Joseph Valley Chapter #2 Royal Arch Masons, Knights Templar Niles Commandery #12, Valley of Grand Rapids Scottish Rite 32nd Degree, Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids, where he served as Past President and current Secretary of the local Niles post. Lance also volunteered his time as a van driver for the Shrine Hospital in Chicago and Cincinnati. In the spring and summer he enjoyed golfing, but when the fall weather hit his greatest passions were bird hunting and the Green Bay Packers. Lance also loved spending time with his granddaughters. He was preceded in death by his father Leonard White in 2005 and a grandson Samuel Hover in 2004. Lance is survived by his wife Karen of Niles, a daughter Kelly White of South Bend, his mother Leona White of St. Joseph, two stepsons Adam (Melissa) Hover of Niles and Bradley (Nichole) Hover of Dowagiac, three granddaughters, Sophie, Stella and Nyla Hover, a brother Arnie (Amy) White of St. Joseph, nephews Alex and Lucas White and a niece Lyndsay White. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar Street, Niles with Rev. Don Fleischman and Pastor Ed Slade officiating. Private graveside services will be held at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens at a later time. A visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 from 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, Niles. A Masonic service will be held at 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.