W. Carlton White
It pleased the Lord to take unto himself our beloved brother, uncle, and friend, William Carlton White II, 70, on March 7, 2026, at Duke University hospital in Durham, NC, after a long and valiant fight with pancreatic cancer. Born in Richmond, Virginia, Carlton was the son of William Carlton and Meta Lois (Diffenderfer) White. He had lived for nearly half a century outside Charlottesville, Virginia, and at the time of his passing was a resident of the family home, Lilac Hill, in Chatham, Virginia. During his childhood, the family lived in Pensacola, Florida.
Carlton followed in the footsteps of his father and paternal uncles in attending Hargrave Military Academy, graduating as valedictorian in 1974. He received his bachelor’s degree with a major in psychology from the University of Virginia in 1978.
Shortly before graduation, Carlton found a full-time job in the research lab of Dr. Donald W. Kupke in the Department of Biochemistry, where Dr. Kupke became his mentor. This led to a career of 34 years in molecular genomics research in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics at the School of Medicine. Carlton adapted and maintained vital animal cell cultures as a member of a biomedical research lab trying to understand how mammalian genes replicate themselves. His intelligence, meticulousness, dependability, and enthusiasm were integral to his team’s careers and discoveries. These foundational discoveries are now taught as accepted fact in medical school biology courses.
From 1993 to 2003, Carlton served as an elder in the International Christian Fellowship (ICF) in Charlottesville. There he led worship, taught, and sometimes preached. He was respected for his knowledge of the Bible, church history, Reformed theology, and good books. He was loved for his kindness, humility, warmth, and cheerfulness. Firm in his convictions, he exemplified Christian gentleness towards those with less knowledge or maturity. His leadership brought both stability and life to ICF, and his wise counsel guided his fellow elders.
Carlton also delivered several sermons at Chatham Presbyterian Church, the family’s home church for four generations, and the same sanctuary where he was christened.
In his youth, Carlton built model rockets. As a young man, he rode dressage, and later he became a gourmet cook.
He was a grandson of George Rison and Myrtle Coleman (Reynolds) White of Chatham, and of Meta Lois (Lindenstruth) and Will C. Diffenderfer of Pensacola. His family in Pittsylvania County reached back before the American Revolution, and his progenitors were at Valley Forge and the Battle of Yorktown.
Survivors include his sister, Theckla Elizabeth (White) Williams of the home, his sister, Laura (White) Alderson and his niece Laura Elizabeth Alderson of Raleigh, North Carolina, and numerous cousins.
Funeral services will be on March 21 at 2 pm at Chatham Presbyterian Church, the Reverend Mikel Pugh officiating. Burial will be at Chatham Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Chatham Presbyterian Church, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, or the Banner of Truth Trust.
Norris Funeral Services, Chatham Chapel is serving the family.
