White, Harlan Edward

Harlan E. White, 69, of Blacksburg, passed away June 4, 2007 at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center. The son of the late James and Anna White of Seaford, Del. Harlan was a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Survivors include his wife and companion for 48 years, Jean Fluharty White; son, Joseph R. and daughter-in-law, Susan Cockerham White, of Galax, Va.; and daughter, Linda W. Kipps and son-in-law, Ryne D. Kipps, of Blacksburg. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Jenna, Allison, and Brady White and Mark and Katy Kipps; brother and sister-in-law, Clark and Susan White, of Seaford, Del.

In addition to his 28 year career as Extension Forage Specialist and Project Leader in the Crop and Soils Department at Virginia Tech, Harlan loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing, gardening, and Virginia Tech Sports. He was proud to serve two years in the U.S. Army Chemical Corp, being discharged with the rank of Captain prior to joining the Virginia Tech Agronomy Department faculty in 1966. He especially enjoyed raising and training beagles for hunting and field trialing.

He was a member of the Blacksburg United Methodist Church, serving several leadership roles including assistant scoutmaster. He served as Master of Blacksburg Hunter’s Lodge # 156 A.F. & A.M. and was a member of the Blacksburg Royal Arch Chapter. As a member of the Longshop McCoy Ruritan Club, he enjoyed the community fellowship and served as President.

Harlan and Jean very seldom missed a Virginia Tech football or basketball game having been season ticket holders since 1967. Harlan received many state and national awards in recognition of his forage educational programs conducted in cooperation with co-workers, one of the most recent being the Medallion Award which is the top award given by the Forage and Grassland Council. In 1979, he was a founder of the Virginia Forage and Grassland Council which has grown to become a major voice for the forage and livestock industries in Virginia.

Following retirement he served as Treasurer and Advisor to the council. In traveling around Virginia, the large round bales, new cross fences for improved grazing, beef cow grazing “stockpiled” grass during the winter, brown fields in spring killed with herbicides in preparation for soil-saving no-till corn seeding, and pastures and hay fields seeded with soil-protecting no-till methods are clear reminders of the impact of some of Harlan’s work with Extension workers and other co-workers on improved conservation management practices by producers.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, June 7, 2007 at 2 p.m. in the Blacksburg United Methodist Church with the Rev. Reggie Tuck and the Rev. Morris Fleischer officiating. Interment will follow in the Westview Cemetery, Blacksburg.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Virginia Forage and Grasslands Council, Attention: David Fiske, P.O. Box 100, Steeles Tavern, Va. 24476. Friends may call anytime after 12 noon Wednesday, and the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday evening with Masonic rites at 7 p.m. by Hunter’s Lodge # 156 A.F. & A.M. at the McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive, SW, Blacksburg.