Charles White

Charles Anthony White, 88, of Smithville, Texas passed away on June 17, 2024. 

Charles was born on September 9, 1935 in Fort Worth. He was adopted by Ernest and Maddie White and lived in West University in Houston, Texas. He attended Lamar High School in Houston and The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida where he was a competitive swimmer. He then went on to attend the University of Texas at Austin where he was a Sigma Nu. 

As a child growing up in West University, life was carefree. However, he and his sister, Julie, did have a mischievous side, whether it be by ringing the neighbors’ doorbells and running away, climbing the chinaberry tree in the front yard and throwing berries at passing cars or climbing out of the bedroom window onto the roof just because it was a forbidden rule. 

He loved playing outside and roller skating, riding bikes, playing in mud-climbing trees, waiting for the popsicle truck to come by the house every day and waiting for fireflies to appear every night to put in jars with holes in the lid to make lanterns. He and Julie enjoyed walking to West University Village, about 7 blocks away, to the toy store and to the 7-cent matinee picture show. 

Life in West University was simple and quiet, but Charles and Julie did their best to create their own chaos! 

During his young adult life, he worked at White Marble Company in Houston and taught dance classes. From Houston, he would go to Tomball and open Brown Road Nursery with his partner, Stanley Stallones. It was during this time he developed a passion for antiques and stained glass. This took the two of them to Eureka Springs, Arkansas where they opened Local Inventory and stocked it with the most wonderful assortment of antiques and collectibles. Charles was beloved by the merchants all along the block. His sense of humor and warm hospitality kept people coming back. He was a supporter of local musicians that would play and sell their music in the store. He served on the board of the Eureka Springs Parks & Recreation Commission. He enjoyed making Tiffany styled stained glass and sold many of his pieces in the store and to people who commissioned his work. 

After several years, Charles and Stanley made their way back to Texas and opened the Iron Pigtail antique store in downtown Boerne. They continued with their creative passions and serving their community. After Stanley’s passing, Charles moved to Galveston with his son, Kevin and then to Smithville to also be with his daughter, Beth. 

Smithville became his home, and everyone welcomed him with open arms. It was in Smithville he also rescued his beloved dog, Foxy. In his last few years, he spent lots of his time at the Smithville General Store holding court. He loved all “his girls” that worked there as if they were his own family and they adored him. 

Charles was the king of dirty jokes and gossip! He loved Judge Judy, Astros Baseball, Texas Longhorn Football, 1930’s movies, Blue Bell Ice Cream, black coffee, sweet iced tea and sugar on everything else. He loved fish dinner at the Front Room Wine Bar, shrimp cocktail and filet mignon from the Piney Creek Chop House, Mexican food from Mandito’s and Kolaches from Weikel’s. 

Charles loved his family and friends so much, especially his grandchildren, Jordan and Jacob. He talked about them with pride and joy all the time and cherished his visits with them throughout the years. 

Charles was full of life and vigor and made everyone smile and laugh that encountered him. He taught us all about living life to its fullest, silliness is the key to happiness and love is love regardless of what your upbringing and beliefs may have taught you. These are the gifts and lessons we can all treasure and take with us moving forward. 

Charles was predeceased by his parents, Ernest and Maddie White, niece Robin Kelley, his ex-wife and mother of his children, Thelma Inez Lindsay and his partner of 45 years, Stanley Stallones. 

He is survived his children, Kevin White and Beth Neely, son-in-law Blake Neely, grandchildren Jordan and Jacob Neely, sister Julie Campbell and brother-in-law Tom, niece Ginger Harding and her husband Bob and children Conner, Elden and Hollis Harding, niece Kim Kelley and children Kennedy and Ellie Robinson, nephew Jon Campbell and grand nephew John Kelley-Roberts. 

A Celebration of Life and spreading of the ashes is open to all who knew and loved Charles. It will be held at the home of Beth Neely on August 3, 2024, at 5pm. Please see link below for more information and to RSVP. 

https://pp.events/aarMbP7r