Dr. Harold F. White

On Friday, September 2, 2022, Lancaster, PA, lost its heart and soul when the legendary Dr. Harold F. White passed on to Glory at the age of 90. He had been under a physician’s care in Washington, D.C. Harold Frederick White, Sr, Lancaster, was the husband of the late Ruth Lorraine (Bowser) White and had been a resident of Lancaster City for over 60 years. Dr. White was born in Reading, Pennsylvania, on June 25, 1932, the son of the late Clayborne M. White and Carrie G. (Jackson) White. He was the second youngest of six siblings: Clayborne M. White Jr., Charlotte R. White, Elizabeth G. (White) Morrison, Robert L. White, and Esther M. White. In 1950, Harold graduated from Reading High School and started his college education at Lincoln University. He initiated into the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Beta Chapter at Lincoln University, and later joined the Kappa Omega graduate chapter in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He served in The United States Army from 1953 to 1955. In 1956, he graduated from Lincoln University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. He continued to advance and graduated from the Pennsylvania College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1961. Dr. White moved to Lancaster to serve his internship at the Lancaster Osteopathic Hospital. In 1962, he started his private practice. One of his proudest moments was in 1972 when he partnered with The Lancaster Urban League and Lancaster Osteopathic Hospital to provide the first Sickle Cell Anemia screening tests to black elementary school students. During his 50-plus years in practice, Dr. White was affiliated with the Lancaster Osteopathic Hospital, the Community Hospital of Lancaster, and Lancaster General Hospital. He was also a member of several medical associations: Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (President, Board of Trustees, House of Delegates), the American Osteopathic Association (House of Delegates), and the American College of General Practitioners in Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (Fellow), the Lancaster Osteopathic Hospital Department of Family Practice (President). In 1980, the Pennsylvania Osteopathic General Practice honored Dr. White as ‟Physician of the Year”. In 1970, Dr. White ran for a seat on the Board of the School District of Lancaster to be a voice for the community and was the first black member to be elected. During his 24 years of service, Dr. White was elected Board President, served as Chairman of the curriculum committee, and served on every board committee on the Lancaster Foundation for Educational Enrichment and the advisory board of the Multicultural Enrichment Center. In 1995, the Board of the School District of Lancaster voted to name the new library in the McCaskey East building after Dr. White, in honor of his outstanding dedication and commitment to the education and well-being of the children in the district. Dr. White’s community involvement reached far and wide, including The Rotary Club of Lancaster where he was a Paul Harris Fellow, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Lancaster (Founding Board Member), SouthEast Lancaster Health Services (Founding Board Member), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Urban League of Lancaster County (President 1971-75 and 2004-07), and the Lancaster Chapter of the American Red Cross (Board of Directors 1968-1984). Dr. White is survived by his four children Vera (Lee), Harold Jr., Michele (Cynthia), and Marc; three grandchildren, Jessica, James, and Christian; his sister, Elizabeth G. (White) Morrison; Sister-in-Law, Opal L. White; and Brother-in-Law, John E. Bowser (Frances); and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends. Friends and the community are invited to pay their respects during a public viewing on Thursday, September 15, 2022, from 12 noon to 8:00 p.m. at The Groffs Family Funeral Home, 528 W. Orange Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. Parking is available. All visitors are encouraged to wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines. The Homecoming Service to honor Dr. Harold F. White will be held on Friday, September 16, 2022. Due to Covid-19, capacity is restricted and necessitates a PRIVATE, family service. However, we invite and encourage the community to join us via live stream on Friday, September 16, 2022 starting at 10:00 a.m. by clicking on this link https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/9258069120. Private interment in Charles Evans Cemetery will follow immediately after the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the JFGoodwin-Scholarship-Fund. Dr. White sought assistance from this organization during his matriculation at Lincoln University. Their scholarship enabled Dr. White to achieve his dream of becoming a physician. Mail donations to The J. F. Goodwin Scholarship Club, P.O. Box 386, Bethlehem, PA 18016. Donations are tax-deductible.