Walter Eugene “Jingles” White

Walter Eugene “Jingles” White, 76, of Pulaski, Virginia passed away peacefully on January 9, 2026 after a prolonged illness.

Born June 22, 1949 in Washington DC, Walter moved to Pulaski as a young child. He attended Calfee School and Christiansburg Institute and was a competitive athlete in football, wrestling and track before graduating from Pulaski High School in 1967. That year, the senior class voted Walter “Mr. Friendly,” an early indication of his lifelong ability to connect authentically with people from all walks of life.

While his family called him “Gene,” many friends and acquaintances knew Walter as “Jingles,” a childhood nickname he would carry for the rest of his days.

During his long career in the chemical engineering field, Walter worked for the Hercules Corporation and retired from Magnox Pulaski, Inc. He was no stranger to hard work, and he played even harder. Walter loved a road trip, often stopping to visit loved ones and always making new friends along the way. Through his travels and interest in African culture, he became involved with the Gullah Geechee Nation’s efforts to preserve and celebrate West African heritage and traditions in America.

Walter served as a board member and supporter of numerous civic and cultural organizations in both the Pulaski and Gullah Geechee communities. In recent years, he was actively involved in planning and fundraising for the Calfee Center in Pulaski. As recognition of his work to restore the formerly abandoned building for use as a community center and honor its history as a segregated Black school, the Walter “Jingles” White Sankofa Walk at Calfee was dedicated to him in 2022. The nature trail, still in development, lies just beyond the playground where Walter enjoyed recess as an elementary student.

 

Walter was predeceased by his grandparents, Walter and Molly White; mother, Ruth White Trueheart; father, Forest V. Miller; and brother, William Andrew “Bubba” White. He is survived by his devoted sister, Claudine Trueheart; nephew Marcus (Tabitha) McClanahan; great-nephews Malaki Saunders and Amari McClanahan; and cousins Fred and Patricia Poole and Janie Montgomery. Walter will be remembered for his generous spirit, dedication to his friends and family, and unwavering support of the communities he cherished.

 

A memorial service celebrating Walter’s life will be held Saturday, January 31, 2026 at Randolph Avenue United Methodist Church in Pulaski, VA, with Rev. Elston McLain officiating. The family will receive visitors at 1:00 pm, and the service will begin at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Calfee Center.

 

To sign Walter’s online guestbook, visit www.bowerfuneralhome.com – Bower Funeral Home & Crematory, Pulaski is handling the arrangements for the family.