Howard "Buck" Marion White Jr., 83, of Galena, Missouri, passed away on April 7, 2026.

Born on March 14, 1943, in Des Moines, Iowa, Buck was the son of Howard Sr. and Freda Glasscock White. He graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1961 and went on to attend the Missouri School of Mines. He married Sharon Hanna on April 18th, 1964.

Buck spent more than 40 years in the water well drilling industry, working as a driller, business owner, consultant, and sales associate. He was widely known for his deep knowledge of the trade and his passion for the work.

He loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, especially during competitive game nights filled with Yahtzee and card games. Buck and his wife enjoyed traveling across the United States in their RV, creating lasting memories along the way. He also had a deep love for boating and fishing, and some of his happiest moments were spent on Table Rock Lake in his Ranger bass boat, surrounded by family and friends. His love of the Iowa Hawkeyes was known by anyone who ever met him.
Buck will also be remembered for his strong commitment to mission work. He participated in several projects in the Yucatán, Guatemala, and Haiti, helping provide clean drinking water while sharing God's word with local communities. His greatest wish was for others to come to know God's grace and salvation.

He is survived by his wife, Sharon Hanna White of Galena, Missouri; his son, Russ White of Somonauk, Illinois; his daughter, Deb (Thom) Newton of Mount Vernon, Iowa; and his grandchildren, Thomas, Daniel, and Hanna Newton, and Madison and Drew White.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard Sr. and Freda White; and his sisters, Karen Essex and Kathy Hubbs, brother-in-law Jim Hubbs and sister-in-law Connie Garrett.

A celebration of life will be held on April 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Harvest Chapel, 725 S. County Line Road, Sandwich, Illinois 60548.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Water for Life Haiti at https://www.wflhaiti.org/