Funeral service for Richard J. White, 79, of Canton, formerly of Russell will be held on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 11 a.m. at the O’Leary Funeral Home in Canton with Rev. Bill Hart officiating. Burial will follow in the South Russell Cemetery. Mr. White passed away on Sunday, January 02, 2011 at the Canton-Potsdam Hospital.

Friends may call at the O’Leary Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Canton or Russell Volunteer Rescue Squads or to Hospice and Palliative Care of the St. Lawrence Valley.

Mr. White is survived by a son, Joseph White and wife Debra of Canton and Russell; two daughters, Jeanie Hance and husband Peter of Lexington, NC and Becky Kirkpatrick and husband Ron of Edwards; and by 12 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by five brothers, Earl, John, Ed, Karl and Charlie White; and two sisters, Olive French and Dorothy Whiteford.

Richard was born January 29, 1931 in Russell, the son of the late George and Sarah (Rork) White. He graduated from Russell School in 1947. He served in the United States Air Force from 1948 to 1951. He was married to Alice Austin of Pyrites. She passed away in October of 2009.

Dick owned and operated several Russell businesses, including the Shell Station, Russell Corner Store and Russell Hardware. He was the head of transportation and a bus driver for Knox-Memorial School, retiring in 1986. Dick was a charter member of the Russell Volunteer Fire Department and Past Chief; as well as a past member of the Knox-Memorial School Board and founding member of the Russell Pee-Wee Association.

He loved to play softball, hunt and fish. He especially liked to cut wood.

Condolences may be shared with the White family online at www.olearyfuneralservice.com.