Wester A. White

Wester A. White





July 9 1909 - April 25 2007

Wester A. White of Freeville, NY, passed away at the Groton Nursing Facility on April 25, 2007 at the age of 97. He was born July 9, 1909 in Westhampton Beach, Long Island, to the late Alpha E. White and Maria (Wester) White. He remained on the island until he attended Syracuse University, where he earned a BA in Fine Arts and Physical Education in 1932. In 1953, he married Barbara (Cate) White of Montour Falls, NY. After college Wes was hired as a physical education teacher at the Boynton Junior High School, Ithaca, NY, from 1932-36. From there, he turned golf professional and began teaching the game at the Glen Springs Golf Course, Watkins Glen, NY, in 1937. Later that same year Wes was asked to become the Physical Education Director and coach of basketball and track at the Central High School, Warsaw, NY, where he remained until 1945. In late 1945 he was offered the golf professional's job at the Country Club of Ithaca, Ithaca, NY, which he held until 1957.

A change of direction occurred when, in 1958, the Country Club of Ithaca began construction of their new golf course. Wes became superintendent of construction for that project under architect Geoffrey Cornish. Once the course was completed he decided to stay on as greens superintendent until his retirement in 1974. Concurrent to this period, Wes designed and built several area courses, among them the Maple Hill Golf Course, Marathon, NY; the first nine holes of the Trumansburg Golf Club, Trumansburg, NY, and the Bonavista State Golf Course in Ovid, NY. In 1960, Geoffrey Cornish once again enlisted Wes to build the beautiful 36 hole Summerlea Golf Club in Montreal, CanadaWes was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity; a life member of the Professional Golf Association; life member of the NYS Arms Collectors Assoc.; life and charter member of the Kentucky Rifle Assoc. He was anot collector, authority and author on the subject of early American firearms and Americana. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; his sons, Ronald A. White of Freeville, NY, and Thomas S. White of Charlotte, NC; grandchildren, Brenton A. White and Ronald F. White, both of Freeville, NY. No local services are planned. The family wishes to thank the Ithaca Hospice and Groton Nursing Facility for all their care and sensitivity.