Letters to Libby

About the Book

Letters to Libby/ Part One is part one of a three part series. The books are comprised of edited letters written by Joseph A. White to his wife (Elizabeth T. White ["Libby"]) during World War II. The letters in Part One chronicle a tale beginning in the U.S. in Presque Isle, Maine (September, 1942), and ending in Goubrine, Tunisia (August, 1943). The sorrow of parting, the misery of separation, the vicissitudes of Army-Air Corps life; all are themes well explored, and overcome by faith in God and the love between a man and a woman.

About the Author

Joseph A. White was born in Mebane, North Carolina on February 28, 1918 to Joseph and Lillian White. He spent his childhood years in Greensboro, North Carolina where he met his wife to be (B. Elizabeth Taylor; daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Raymond Taylor) in the First Baptist Church of Greensboro at the tender age of nine years old.

He later attended the University of Michigan from 1935-1938, where he earned his Bachelor of Music Degree. From 1938 to 1940 he furthered his education at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He then went back to the University of Michigan to earn his Master of Music Degree during the years 1940-1941. The instrument he played was the French Horn.

He volunteered for active duty in the Army-Air Corps in 1941 before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, then began his flight training and married Elizabeth on May 16, 1942 in Valdosta, Georgia. From 1942 to 1945 (the period covered by the letters in the three part series Letters to Libby), he was engaged as a troop-carrier and transport pilot, and also as a personal pilot to a variety of notable characters (Winston Churchill, King George VI of England, Ike Eisenhower, Field Marshal Montgomery, and Field Marshal Alexander).

After the war he and his wife returned to Ann Arbor, Michigan, but not before their first child (J. A. White III) was delivered on December 3, 1945 in Greensboro, North Carolina. In Ann Arbor at the University of Michigan he worked on his Doctorate and taught French Horn from 1946 to 1947, and then continued to work on his Doctorate while being occupied as an Instructor there from 1948 to 1950. On May 5, 1948, a second son was born to them, (Raymond Alan White, the Editor of Letters to Libby).

In 1950, Joseph and his family moved to Tallahassee, Florida, where he began work at the Florida State University School of Music, while continuing working on his Doctorate. At F.S.U. he played and taught French Horn and a variety of other Music courses such as Music Theory and Sightsinging. He directed ensembles and dissertations as well as playing French Horn in several Symphonies around the nation. Joseph and Elizabeth's first daughter (Marcia Elizabeth White-Wurzel) was born in Tallahassee on May 6, 1951. Joseph White became Dr. White in 1958 when he was awarded his Doctorate from the University of Michigan. On July 26, 1959, their second daughter, (Carroll Taylor White-Jarrett), and final member of the immediate family was also born in Tallahassee. After becoming a Professor he also served as Assistant to the Dean of the School of Music at F.S.U. until he retired in 1990. Immediately upon retiring he was rehired as a Visiting Professor, and worked at F.S.U. until he died on July 31, 1999.

Dr. White died of a heart attack in his School of Music office on a Saturday, while working on administrative tasks associated with the 62nd Troop-Carrier Reunion for that year. He was found by his loving wife when she went to his office after he called her and said he wasn't feeling too well.

Dad always said that when it was time for him to go, he prayed that the Good Lord would take him quickly...and He did. It was a tragic but fitting end to the earthly life of a great man.