Willard L. White

Willard White passed away on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 2:25 a.m. at Trustbridge Hospice in Jupiter, Florida with his daughter holding his hand. Willard White, is survived by his beloved daughter Stacey and son-in-law Brooks Easterling of Jupiter, Florida, a brother Fred (Sandra) of Elizabethtown, KY, two nephews, Jody White (Jolene) of Owensboro, KY and Anderson White (Andrea) of Fishers, Indiana, and niece, Shellee Godfrey (Dr. Chris) of Elizabethtown, Ky. He is also survived by nephews Joshua, Jeremy (Claire), Jordan (Mary Katherine) White , and nieces Hannah Lee (JB) and Micaela Godfrey. He was predeceased by his cherished wife, Peggy. Also by his brother Raymond and sister-in-law, Mary Ellen of Louisville, KY, and his parents Luke and Martha White of Williamsburg, KY. After graduating from Cumberland Junior College and Union College, he was as the first science teacher at Seminole Junior High School in Mt Clemens, Michigan. After 4 years he accepted a position with the Birmingham, MI schools (Derby, West Maple and Covington Junior High Schools) where he served as a science teacher, teacher of gifted students and as Team Chairman of grades 6 through 9, an administrative position and he implemented the first junior high school gifted program in the school district. After earning an M.A. degree in Education Leadership at Eastern Michigan University, White took a two-year mid-career sabbatical to earn a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Gifted Education at the University of Connecticut. Part of his doctoral program was an internship at the Connecticut Department of Education in Hartford. While pursuing his doctorate, he arranged a reunion of the Speyer School Alumni who attended America’s first gifted program in New York City, 1935-1940 and a second reunion of the Quiz Kids, of radio and early television. The reunions were special features of Confratute, a summer program at the University of Connecticut for educators of gifted students. White served as an Adjunct Instructor at Michigan State University and as Executive Secretary for the Michigan Alliance of Gifted Education Annual Conference. In 1993 White accepted the position of Program Planner for Gifted Education with the Palm Beach County Schools, the eleventh largest school district in the U. S. at the time. During his tenure in Palm Beach County he was successful in gaining school board support for the evaluation of the gifted education program, for the first time, by an out-of- state team of experts. He introduced the addition of part-time resource model gifted programs in elementary schools; and expanded the state sponsored Gifted Endorsement Program. He was invited by officials at the Florida Department of Education to serve on several committees and to conduct workshops in several Florida school districts. He was an Instructor at Florida Atlantic University for many years and he served as President of the Florida Association for Gifted 2003 – 2005. In addition he is the author of America’s First Gifted Program: Hollingworth and the Speyer School Experiment. Willard White enjoyed teaching and excelled as a teacher trainer. He made presentations at state and national conferences, had several articles published, and his research has shown the long established practice of grouping students by chronological age does not benefit advanced learners, the most under-served students in education today. Will was an active member of Jupiter First Church, loved vacations to Las Vegas or cruising in the Caribbean with family. He loved helping people, March Madness basketball, Big Band Music, eating out at local restaurants and was a great story teller. Those who wish to honor Dr. White’s life and in lieu of flowers may contribute to The Jupiter First Church Prayer Shawl Ministry or The Jupiter First Pre-School. The Memorial service for Willard White will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Jupiter First Church.

Willard L. White

September 17, 1936 - May 17, 2025