Carl Franklin White

Rotterdam- Carl Franklin White 83, originally from Norfolk Virginia, passed away early Saturday morning August 27, 2016 at Ellis Hospital. His father and mother were Hubert W. White and Dorothy D. Pritchett of Columbus, NC.

Before completing high school in Norfolk, Carl joined the Air Force at the age of 17, serving first as a radar operator and then as a computer operator when computers were vacuum tube-filled boxes programmed by punch cards and magnetic tape. His service in the Air Force took him all over the world. His tours of duty included the Army Depot in Rotterdam NY, Seoul Korea during the Korean War, Savannah Georgia, AF Reserves in Schenectady, Regular AF in Petersburg Virginia, Labrador Canada, Lakeside Montana, Hampton Virginia, Wiesbaden Germany, and Fairborn Ohio. He retired from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant in October of 1974.

His travels in the Air Force set the stage for many of the important milestones in his life. Most important of those were meeting his loving wife Joyce Olive Yahn while stationed at the old Army Depot in Rotterdam (now part of the Rotterdam Industrial Park), whom he married on November 22, 1952. Joyce followed him around the world during his 24+ years of active and reserve service in the Air Force. Together they had five children; Raymond "Ray", Carl Maxwell "Max" (Leslie), Debra "Deb", Gerald "Jerry" (predeceased), William "Bill" (Sara). Carl is survived by his wife Joyce, all of his children except Jerry who died too young at the age of 28 in December of 1990, 2 half brothers, 2 half sisters, 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

After his Air Force career, Carl retired in Rotterdam to be near Joyce's and his adopted New York family. He continued his career in computers working for several companies in the Capital District. He finally committed fully to retirement in 1992, after working part time in the State of NY's Office of Taxation and Finance.

Carl enjoyed outdoor sports. He took up hunting and fishing while stationed in the beautiful Rocky Mountains of Montana. His niece's husband got him interested in archery, which he enjoyed recreationally while a member of the Woodlawn Gun Club. He also participated in archery competitions throughout the country. He loved studying World History and Politics and talking about those topics with anyone willing to listen.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301 Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or online at online at www.DAV.org/donate

Calling hours will be on Friday, September 2, 2016 11:00 am to 1:00 pm at New Comer Funeral Home, 343 New Karner Rd., Colonie. A Memorial Service will follow the calling hours at 1:00 pm at the funeral home. Interment will follow the service in Memory Gardens, Colonie.