Obituary of Peter Ian White

Peter White was born in Ealing, London, England on June 10, 1946, the second son of Maurice and Jean White. Peter’s father was a primary school headmaster whose career took the family to various regions in England. From the age of 11, Peter attended Brigg Grammar School in Lincolnshire, where he excelled academically and in sports—particularly rugby, swimming, diving, rock climbing, and track and field. He set numerous athletic records, some of which stood for over 30 years.

After high school, Peter attended St. Mark and St. John’s Teacher Training College in London. It was there, at a college dance, that he met Heather Marshall, a fellow teacher trainee. The two quickly fell in love and, after graduating in 1967, began their teaching careers in London. Peter and Heather married in August 1969, and in 1970, they followed their dream of teaching abroad, moving to Canada for what was originally planned as a two-year stint.

In 1970, they settled in Oyen, Alberta, where Peter began teaching Phys Ed and Social Studies at Cereal School, and Heather taught at Oyen Public School. Adjusting from life in London to small-town Oyen was a shock, with its unpaved roads and wooden boardwalks, but Peter and Heather soon grew to love the community.

Peter adapted to Canadian sports, learning to teach and coach sports like curling, volleyball, basketball, football, and hockey, even though these had not been on the British sports curriculum. In 1972, Peter transferred to Oyen Public School, where he taught for the next four years while also earning his Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Calgary. During this time, Peter and Heather welcomed their children, Jason and Danielle.

In 1976, Peter became vice-principal of South Central High School (SCHS) in Oyen, where he taught physical education, sociology, psychology, and law. He proudly coached the girls' volleyball and badminton teams to several provincial competitions. In 1981, he was appointed principal of SCHS, a position he held for 21 years. Peter guided the school through many changes, including the centralization of local high schools, the automation of the library, and the regionalization of school boards. He earned his M. Ed. in 1991 and was awarded the Garfield Weston Outstanding Principal Award in 2003 for his exceptional leadership.

Peter retired from full-time teaching in 2002 but continued as a substitute teacher for several years. Throughout their 54 years in Oyen, Peter and Heather were actively involved in the community. Peter joined the Kinsmen Club, helping with various service projects and forming many strong friendships. They became members of the Anglican Church, where Peter played guitar and sang alongside Ken Mick(guitar) and Adina or May McBain (piano) during weekly services.

The Whites were also integral to local theatre, joining the New Brigden Drama Club in 1990 and participating in 16 productions. Peter’s excellent singing talents were showcased in many roles, with his performance as Fagin in “Oliver” being particularly memorable. The Whites co-directed several productions and continued their directorial partnership with the SCHS Drama Club in their retirement. Family was paramount in Peter’s life. He was a proud and devoted "Opa" to his five grandchildren—Frazer, Izaac, Eliza, Morgan, and Connor—attending their events and celebrating their achievements. He and Heather enjoyed many camping trips, travels to the UK, USA, and Europe, and frequent visits to Calgary to spend time with their children and grandchildren.

Strong friendships anchored the Whites in Oyen far beyond their initially planned two years They were grateful for the warm welcome they received from local families and developed lasting bonds with many in the community, particularly special friends; the Wulfs, Rob Vermeer, the Craces, Monagles, Micks, Georgia Sullivan, the Jorgensons, McBains and the entire Paetz clan.

Though Peter’s health declined in recent years, he continued to cherish time spent with family and friends. His sudden passing on October 2, 2024, leaves a profound gap in the lives of those who knew and loved him. However, his legacy of kindness, dedication, and community spirit will be remembered by many. We are sure that in turn, Peter would say, “Thank you, Oyen, for fifty-four wonderful and worthwhile years”.

Peter is survived by Heather, his loving wife of 55 years, his children Jason (Shonna) and Danielle (Murray), his five grandchildren, his brother David (Liz), and many extended family members and friends. He was predeceased by his parents Maurice and Jean White and his parents-in-law Jim and Margarete Marshall.

At the request of the family, please share your memories and stories of Peter so they can share them with his grandkids.