Ralph Thomas "Tom" White Jr.

Ralph Thomas “Tom” White Jr. passed away on May 1, 2026, at the age of 83, at home surrounded by his family.

He was born on June 23, 1942, in Kinston, NC. Tom grew up on a 200-acre tobacco farm in Kinston, NC. He loved sharing memories of riding his horse, building model airplanes, driving a school bus, and helping on the family farm during his younger years.

Tom attended Elon College for two years before earning his Bachelor of Science degree from Guilford College. While working at R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Tom met the love of his life, Sara Lynn Isom. They married and built a beautiful life together.

Tom devoted 36 years to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, where he retired as a Senior Chemist. During his distinguished career, he earned three patents and one trademark for his innovative work. Following retirement, Tom started his own company, White’s Technical Resources, where he traveled to teach companies how to develop laboratory “clean rooms” to prevent sample contamination. He also contributed his expertise by authoring a chapter in a textbook on the topic of Microwave Assisted Chemistry.

Outside of his professional accomplishments, Tom was a man of many talents and hobbies. As a teenager, he enjoyed building and flying remote-control airplanes. Later, he became an accomplished woodworker, spending countless hours in his wood shop crafting wooden trays, cutting boards, and bookends that he sold at craft shows. He also crafted various pieces of furniture for his own home. Tom and Sara enjoyed attending craft shows together, where they sold his woodworking creations alongside Sara’s crocheted items. In later years, Tom found great joy in growing and shaping a variety of Bonsai trees.

Tom was a faithful member of Ardmore United Methodist Church for 62 years. He was known for his kindness and his wonderful storytelling.

Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 61 years, Sara Isom White; his mother, Mildred White; his father, Ralph White, Sr.; his sister, Peggy White Trollinger; his brother-in-law, Joseph Trollinger; and his sister-in-law, Linda Isom.

He is survived by his son, Tommy White; his daughter, Lisa White Sigmon and her husband, Greg Sigmon; his cherished granddaughters, Heather Sigmon and Amy Sigmon; his brother-in-law, Larry Isom; his nephew, Jody Trollinger and his wife Dana Trollinger, and their daughter Julie Trollinger; his niece, Ann Trollinger; his niece, Lori Marsh and her husband Doug Marsh; and his niece, Leah Randall and her husband Ray Randall, and their children, Lydia Randall and Trip Randall.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, May 4, 2026, at Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel, officiated by Rev. Kelly Carpenter. The family will receive friends an hour before the service at the funeral home. A burial will occur at a later date.

Tom’s legacy lives on through the family that he loved deeply, the lives he touched, and the memories shared by all who knew him. He will be dearly missed and lovingly remembered.

Hayworth-Miller Silas Creek Chapel is respectfully serving the family.