Edward Post White | Obituary

Funeral Rites Sunday For Edward P. White"

Southampton Press | Friday, September 9, 1938

Edward & Lizbeth White c1926

The death of Edward Post White on Friday, September 2, 1938, came as a shock to his many friend. Mr. White had been in ill health since March, but of late had been much better. He was born July 15^th, 1865, the only son of Captain Hubert A. and Sarah Post White. Both his father’s and mother’s families have been active in the affairs of Southampton since the days of its early settlement. His uncle, Albert J. Post, was the first president of Southampton Village. The Old Post House was his birthplace and the home of his mother’s family for several generations. Sebonac, now the home of C.H. MacDonald, was his father’s family home.

Mr. White was educated in Friends’ Academy, Locust Valley, and Mohegan Lake Military School. He has severed his town in many capacities, as assistant postmaster for twelve years, later as tax collector, town clerk and finally as, justice of the peace. In all these offices his quiet and genial personality and his just decisions have won him the respect and cooperation of his fellow citizens. But it was in his own home that Edward White was at his best, a devoted son, a loving husband, and helpful father, always more interested in his children’s pleasures or successes than in his own. December 24^th, 1892, he married Lizbeth Halsey, whose family, like his goes back to the founders of Southampton. Together they worked to preserve its history. White town clerk, Mr. White worked with the late harry Sleight of Sag Harbor, in compiling the seventh and eighth volumes of the Town Records, 1883-1927. Mrs. White compiled the World Records while she was town historian. Her death occurred in 1932.

Their children, all of whom are married, are Captain Edward White, Jr., who is with the Bureau of Marine Investigation and Inspection, Washington, D.C., and was in London at the time of his father’s death; also Mrs. Gerald T. Adams of Westhampton Beach, and Harry Halsey White, who lives in the home on Post Crossing. There are five grandchildren, Edward and Helena White, Jean and Gerald Adams, and Harry Halsey White, Jr.

The funeral services were held in his home on Sunday afternoon at five o’clock, The Rev. James N. Armstrong of the Presbyterian Church conducted them. The Rev. John E. Zeiter of the Methodist Church spoke as a friend and neighbor. Edwin O. Swain sang “Abide with Me.” Rev. Jesse Halsey, brother of Mrs. White, offered the prayer at the grave and closed the service.