Obituary of Troy Michael White

Troy Michael “Mickey” White, of Roanoke, went home to be with the Lord and claim his promised resurrection Saturday, December 15, 2018. Mickey was born in Wytheville, Virginia in 1937 to Troy and Hazel White.

Mickey is survived by his wife of 58 years, Norma, (who was a wonderful pastor’s wife), a daughter Cindy Hodges (Clay), a son Michael, two grandsons, Michael Eugene, and Aidan Patrick White. Mickey is also survived by his brother, Gene (Betty), nieces Julie, Amy (Mickey), special cousins and family members.

Mickey graduated from Jefferson High School and attended Roanoke College. He was a second career Pastor who answered God’s call, took early retirement from Eli Lilly and Company as Traffic and Logistic manager, and went into Ministry. He graduated from the Duke Divinity School's Five-year Course of Study for United Methodist Pastors and served numerous pastorates in Floyd, Montgomery, and Bedford counties. His last appointment was Parrish Chapel United Methodist Church in Bedford County, where he served for 15 years.

Mickey's legacy includes working with church members for local needs. He was instrumental in starting local mission programs: these include a Back-Pack program for hungry children, from Stewartsville Elementary School, a Foodbank program at Parrish Chapel to provide a hot meal and groceries for the needy, and a Clothes Closet for those in need of clothing. He started a local Prayer Bead Ministry and church members have distributed over 18,000 prayer beads to the patients at Blue Ridge Cancer Center.

Special thanks to the staff at the Blue Ridge Cancer Center and the 10 South Palliative Care staff at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, for your care and love of Mickey and the family.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society, or to Parrish Chapel UMC in support of local missions.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday December 18, 2018, at Northview United Methodist Church 521 Plantation Road by Pastors Jeff Wilson, Louis Strickler and Doug Sasser.  Pallbearers will be members of his Parrish Chapel family, David Millender, Buck Lynch, Eddie Markham, Leon Jones, Ben DeLorenzi, and Alan Hilbert.  Members of the clergy will serve as honorary pallbearers. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Monday, December 17, 2018 at Simpson Funeral Home 5160 Peters Creek Road. 366-0707