Arthur Tell White, (A.T., Art, Bud) age 96, passed away December 18, 2022.  He would have been 97 on Jan. 10, 2023. He was preceded in death by parents Charles Arthur White and Elnora Ann White, sister Charlotte Mae Toney, brothers Rudolph Robert White and Herbert Kent White.
Surviving relatives are brother-in-law Donald Richard Collins (Shirley) and nephews William (Billy) Carl Toney and Christopher Warren White.
Children are Judith Ann Harding, Barbara Joan York, Pamela Faye Brearley (Steven), Laura Louise White, Arthur Charles White (Arlene Talley) and Melissa Jeanne Brewster (Barry).
His 21 grandchildren are Paula, Aaron, Tonya, Emily, Kent, Justin, Roger, Tammy, Jenny, Rhonda, Michael, Jeffrey, Kimberly, Christy, Timothy, Matthew, Nicholas, Lori, Joshua, Chad, Brady. Add to that 32 great grandchildren as well as six great-great grandchildren.
He was born & lived in Indianapolis, Indiana and graduated from Emmerich Manual High School.  He was married to Beecher Street neighbor & sweetheart Patricia (Pat) Ruth Callahan on Feb. 4, 1944.  Having taken electrical training courses at Purdue University, he served in the Navy Reserves from 1944-1946.  Classified as Fireman First Class USNR, he ran ship-loading equipment in Berkeley & Oakland, California. Art's Plaster & Drywall Service was his own business endeavor. Later he was employed by International Harvester (Navistar) & retired after working as tool grinder for 30 years. He said he liked the work environment & he exhibited a good work ethic.
As a young energetic boy, Arthur enjoyed swimming at Garfield Park and riding his classic bike on New Street hill near his home.  During his teenage years, he devoted himself to fitness and weightlifting with his brothers and friends at Hoffmeister's Gym downtown. A talented artist at heart, Arthur was always armed with a pencil, pad, or napkin and impressively sketched any and everything that captured his attention.  His favorite subject to draw was figures of his wife Pat.  Also an admirer of architecture, Arthur's sketches included architectural renderings of the 4 homes he designed and built himself.  Arthur had a special place in his heart for music, and he especially loved all the greats from the Big Band era.  A lifelong fan of billiards, he excelled as a pool player.
In his retirement years, he downsized by building his last house, then added ballroom dancing to his skill set. He joined the Continental Dance Club in 1997 dancing at the Moose Lodge and Senior Citizens Centers making many dancing friends.

Arthur liked making his own copies of movies and songs. He possessed multiple 8-track and VCR tape recorders, players and old TV's so he could tape Lawrence Welk shows, borrowed library movies, dance lessons and capture his favorite songs. Nephew Billy Toney would tape pool tournaments for him.
He looked forward to regular family outings to his favorite restaurants, eating wholeheartedly, always finishing a meal with chocolate ice cream or pie to fill his endless sweet tooth.
After 52 years of marriage, his wife Pat died on July 11, 1996.  Arthur had been her devoted caretaker for the two years before her passing. Mourning her passing, he began sketching from a youthful photograph of her and pinned her portraits all over the house.
In 2010, at age 84, he required surgery to install a heart pacemaker.
Around 2017, age 92, he finally (involuntarily) stopped driving. Losing his independence was difficult for him to accept.
In addition to suffering from various physical ailments in his later years, his mind was also affected by dementia.  He described his deteriorated arthritic right hip as delicate. His daughters were challenged by caring for him at home for the past few years. Devoted caregivers were daughters Judy, Barbara, Pam, Laura, Melissa, granddaughter Paula Wood, great-granddaughter Taylor Brearley QMA and family friend/pool player Sylvia Urich.
He cherished riding his mobility scooter in his driveway when the weather was good. He would wear many layers of shirts, vests & jackets even during the summertime because he always felt cold. He dreaded the cold wintertime. The scooter represented his last set of wheels.
His memory was declining and sometimes didn't recognize who his relatives were.  Family members would drive Arthur on a house tour of his past homes so that he could recall those memories. Having forgotten the last-built Blackstone house, the last house he remembered was his former Alice Avenue house.  Photo albums were assembled to assist him with remembering his life story. However, old song lyrics were never forgotten.  He kept asking what he should be doing.  Was he coming or going?  He was a fighter and didn't want to lose his health battles; he said he kept making adjustments.
His children remember him as a good Father; a hopeless romantic believing in marriage and love; a kindhearted, stubborn soul willing to go to exceptional lengths to help his children. His keen sense of witty humor won't be forgotten.
One of his last remarks was that he wanted to do what was right and one of his very last concerns was that he wanted his family to gather together.  He often said "Good Bye for Now".
The family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to:
The ARC of Shelby County
1202 Highpoint Blvd, Shelbyville, IN 46176
317-398-6708 (Don Collins)
Collins.Don@comcast.net
or
Engelwood Christian Church
57 N. Rural Street, Indianapolis, IN 46201
317-639-1544
Theengelwoodchurch.com