The Stockton Marine Corps Club will be hosting a celebration of life ceremony in Stockton for William “Bill” White, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II and died last week at age 106.
More details about the celebration will be announced later, following a private cremation and burial for White in Huntington Beach at the Good Shepherd Cemetery.
White died Friday afternoon, March 4, with his daughter and granddaughter by his side, according to a Facebook post from the Marine Corps Club.
“The Major lived a great life and though he was 106 years old he fought to be with us until the end,” the post said.
White — who was believed to be the nation’s oldest living Marine — was born in Long Beach in July 1915 and joined the marines in 1934, he later was stationed in Pearl Harbor in 1936-37.
According to his biography, White went to Parker Ranch in Hawaii for training and prepped for the invasion of Iwo Jima.
“He went ashore after the first Flag was raised landing on the beach directly under Mt. Suribachi,” according to the post. “He was with the 1st Battalion, 28th Marines at that time and then he was wounded and sent back to U.S.”
Some of his time in the military consisted of travels in China, Los Angeles, Washington, San Francisco, and Korea.
White had spent his final days living at the Oaks at Inglewood Assisted Living Facility.
His family asked that in lieu of flowers, people make donations to the Hospice of San Joaquin or the Stockton Marine Corps Club.