The Honorable Judge Douglas Gedge White

The Honorable Judge, Douglas Gedge White, 76, of Kingsport, passed away suddenly on September 20, 2023, after a brief illness. The son of Gordon Eugene White, Sr. and Elizabeth Arlene (Smith) White, Doug was born in Brooklyn, NY, and grew up in Wilmette, IL.  A 1965 graduate of New Trier High School, Winnetka, IL, Doug earned a B. A. in History from the University of Wisconsin in 1969 and a J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 1972. 

Doug spent his life serving his country and the law.  He was a member of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, served four years with the U. S. Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps, and retired from the U.S. Navy Reserve with the rank of Commander.  Doug’s legal career spanned 45 years of government service.  He retired after 21 years as an administrative law judge for the Social Security Administration.  He was a member of the bar of the states of Illinois and Missouri and admitted to practice before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Doug is survived by his beloved wife Phyllis; step-children, Ian Dow (Lourdes) and Elizabeth Dow; step-grandson, Elias Navasdow; brother, Gordon White (Sue Bowron-White); nieces, Caroline Carlton (Christopher), Andrea Simpson (Robert), and Diana White (Spenser Rohler). Doug had some special friends who were like family to him:  Sheryl Bogard, Judge Gentry Hogan, and the Bozo.

An avid traveler for decades, Doug visited all seven continents.  It was only fitting that he met the love of his life on a European river cruise and that they spent their 16 years together taking several trips abroad every year.  Despite his wanderlust, Doug never missed a Christmas with his family, returning each year to Champaign, IL, and later to Zionsville, IN, with his gifts always including souvenirs from his recent travels. 

Doug was ever the devoted son and Chicago Cubs’ fan, who lived to see his Cubbies win the World Series.  He thoroughly enjoyed the friendships he made living at Asbury Place, Kingsport.

A visitation will take place Monday, September 25, 2023, at 1 p.m. in Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, 117 E. Charlemont Avenue, Kingsport, TN, where the funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. with Chaplain Larry Munsey officiating.  A burial service will follow at Oak Hill Memorial Park, Kingsport. 

In  lieu of flowers, donations in Doug’s memory may be made to the Kingsport Lions Club or Petworks (Kingsport Animal Shelter).