Obituaries and Funeral Card - Coy John White

COY JOHN WHITE

1895-1979

Coy John White was born July 20, 1895 in the Smith Creek community of Washington County, Virginia. He was the forth son of Fred and Mary White. He died February 21, 1979 in the city of Bristol, Virginia at 609 Vernon Street and was buried at Mountain View cemetery. Coy spent the first 27 years of his life on the farm where he was born. He was a tall, strong young man very satisfied to be a farmer and to hunt and fish the mountains and rivers near his home.

In 1922 the Norfolk and Western Railroad was experiencing a labor strike at their facilities in Bristol, Virginia. Coy’s younger brother, Charles H. White, met one of the officials of the railroad who offered him a job as well as any other young men he could bring. Both Coy and Charles, along with several other young men, went to Bristol to begin working for the Railroad. Due to the ongoing strike, the new employees were housed in Camp cars on the N&W property in order not to have to cross picket lines. Some time afterwards, the strike was settled and the replacement employees were dismissed. One of the Railroad officials came to Coy before he left and told him to report to the Roanoke, Virginia office for permanent employment. Thus begin a career of 38 years of mutually satisfactory service mostly spent at the Shaffers Crossing yard and Shop Track. Coy spent approx. nine years working the night shift as a car repairman along with many years on the Wreck Car crew. He was on call at all times and it was not unusual for him to be on the job for several days when working a wreck. During the decade of the 1930’s and the depression, there were times when employees were reduced to three days a week, however Coy was never laid off in the 38 years with the Railroad. He was a dedicated employee, usually arriving for work 30 minutes early. He only came home one time early due to weather in 38 years. Coy White lived at 2402 Hanover Avenue, Northwest Roanoke from 1936 until his retirement in 1960.

He was married May 9, 1923 in Bristol, Va. to Bessie Garland Rock (Born Sept. 24, 1900 Died Jan. 4, 1995, buried Mountain View Cemetery, Bristol, Va.) of Washington County, Virginia. They had one son born on June 5, 1931, Donald Fred White, who graduated from Jefferson High School in 1950 and went to work at Shaffers Crossing soon after. His railroad career was interrupted by service in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Upon his return, after a four year leave of absence, he returned to the railroad but soon left to further his education at Emory & Henry College.

Written December 7, 2002
Donald Fred White