Obituary of Keith Terrance White

We are devastated to announce the passing of our dad, Keith White (81) of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Just weeks after the death of his wife he died “of a broken heart”, passing peacefully in his sleep on January 27, 2023. In addition to his loving wife, Keith is predeceased by his parents Arleigh and Gladys (Potter) White, and his brother in-law Art Gilmore. He is survived by his children, the lights of his life, Stephanie Bigelow (Jeff), and Derek (Lori); and his sister Joan Gilmore. His spirit will also be cherished by his grandsons Cooper, Tucker and Hunter, and step-grandchildren Jordan, Shamus and Maria. He will be fondly remembered by his nieces and a nephew. Keith grew up in Lawrencetown, Annapolis County surrounded by family. He especially enjoyed serene picnics in Margaretsville and attending the Lawrencetown exhibition. He was a hard-working teenager who exceled in his math courses at school and worked at his father’s gas station in town. He preferred quiet hobbies like working on electronics and playing cards. In 1965, Keith met Judy, who would later become the love of his life. He won her over with his dry sense of humour and quick wit. He took great pride in building his family, and never missed a beat of Stephanie or Derek’s life. Between he and Judy, there was never a missed hockey game or softball tournament. He used his analytical mind to volunteer as the statistician for Derek’s hockey league, which he suspiciously preferred over working as the umpire at Stephanie’s softball games. Along with raising a vibrant family, Keith succeeded in his work. After high school he attended the Nova Scotia Land Survey Institute, where he graduated with a diploma in hydrography. He was proud to have spent the early years of his career traveling on the Baffin and Acadia ships, and working for the Polar Continental Shelf Project. In order to spend more time with his family, he eventually took a position as a hydrographic computer analyst at BIO, where he exceled until retirement. As their children grew older, Keith and Judy enjoyed traveling to sunny destinations. Some favorites include The Virgin Islands, Mexico, and Hawaii. He always found joy exploring nature in his back yard, and could often be found taking his grandchildren for a walk in Shubie Park. In later years, despite his limited mobility, he could be found spending his time admiring the scenic Shubie Canal with Judy and their dog, Kiwi. Since Judy’s passing, Keith has spent much of his time with his oldest grandson, Cooper, who took on a big role in supporting his Grampy. The two found comfort in getting to know each other better while processing their recent loss. Stephanie and Derek miss their parents dearly and will cherish the many happy memories they have growing up in a house full of unconditional love and support. Losing both of their parents so quickly has been challenging, but Stephanie and Derek find solace knowing that they are together once again. There will be a private celebration of Keith and Judy’s lives held at a later date. Stephanie and Derek are overwhelmed by the support they have received over the last few weeks. In lieu of flowers, they feel strongly that Keith would prefer donations be made in Judy’s name to Craig’s Cause, which aims to support patients and their families as they navigate a difficult diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.