Washington Raz "Wash" White, Jr.

Washington Raz “WASH” White, JR., 84, of Bentonville, passed away Monday, April 10, 2023, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Bentonville. Wash was a native of Snyder and a resident of Montrose for 66 years, having moved to Northwest Arkansas to spend time with his immediate family. He served in the Army for four years, where most of his enlisted time was in Europe, and joined the Arkansas National Guard in Lake Village. He was exceptionally proud to have served his country and really enjoyed the time around Veterans Day. After the military, he went to work driving a propane truck for W.E. Tucker and Son’s and Scott’s Propane. After some time, he became the owner and operator of the Portland Texaco station, where you could get diesel, gas, oil, an oil change, your car washed, or just a bad cup of coffee. He sold the business to Norris Gas Company and remained employed by Mr. Andy Norris.  The new owner knew that in order to keep the Southeast Arkansas customers, he needed to keep Wash. When Wash and Bernice moved to Rogers, he just wasn’t able to stay retired. He said to his son Steven, “I must get a job; I can’t sit here and look at these walls” and decided that he would drive a school bus for the Bentonville School District. He drove a bus for 14 years and was beloved by many elementary students over his time there. As many know, you would never see him working without wearing his straw cowboy hat and that didn’t change when he moved to Northwest Arkansas and began driving a bus. He was anointed with the nickname of “Cowboy Bus Driver” because many people didn’t know his name, but they sure knew that hat.  He made many new friends at the bus department and continued to stay in touch with them even after his second retirement. His faith was as important to him as the air he breathed.  Wash was a member of Montrose Baptist Church, where he served as Chairman of the Deacons, Usher, taught Sunday school, and would fill in for any position that was needed. He also attended several area Baptist churches in Northwest Arkansas. He enjoyed visiting with people whether he knew them or not. In most places he would go, he would see someone he knew, or at least you would think he knew them from the way he treated them. He loved when the farmers began planting and when harvest started. He had so much respect for some of the best farmers in the US, just to name a few: Bruce Bond, The Johnson family, The Selby family, The Cochran family, Earl Pamplin, Dwayne Hale, and many more too numerous to name! To say that Wash White loved his family, friends, and church in a huge way would be an understatement!! He was especially proud of his first great-grandchild. When he was looking at him in person or a photo, he swelled with pride and love!

He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Bernice Breedlove White, and his parents, Raz and Rubye Dell Ferguson White.

He is survived by his son, Steven White and wife, Amy, of Bentonville; his sister, Ruth White and husband, Ricky, of Fountain Hill; three grandsons, Austin Raz White and wife, Kaitlin, of Cave Springs, Wyatt Helton of Bentonville, and Trevor Helton of Pea Ridge; his beloved first great-grandchild, Grayson Raz White; two very special nieces, “bonus daughters,” Laura Lovell and Cheridyth White, and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews that he loved dearly.

Funeral services are 10 a.m., Saturday, April 15, 2023, at the Montrose Baptist Church with Bro. Jack Woods and Bro. Larry Donaldson officiating. Burial will be in the Montrose Cemetery. Pallbearers are Austin White, Trevor Helton, Wyatt Helton, James Breedlove, Andrew Breedlove, and Jonathan Breedlove. Honorary pallbearers are Joe Breedlove, Bruce Bond, Bruce Johnson, Douglas Crane, and David Burns. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Montrose Cemetery Association, c/o Rita Chandler, 133 Lynn Road, Portland, AR 71663. 

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m., Friday, at the funeral home and 9:30 -10 a.m., Saturday at the church

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