Joseph R. White,Esq.

LUDLOW – Joseph R. White, Esq., 84, passed away peacefully with his family by his side at Baystate Medical Center on April 24, 2026. Born on September 4, 1941, in Worcester, Massachusetts, he was the son of the late Joseph V. and Kathryn M. (Ziemba) White. Joe was raised in Palmer and went on to build a life defined by service, dedication, and leadership.

Joe was a proud and distinguished veteran of the United States Army, serving during the Gulf War era. His final active-duty assignment was during Operation Desert Shield, where he worked at the Pentagon. A counterintelligence officer, Joe attained the rank of Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and retired as the Commander of a Massachusetts Army Reserve unit. He also shared his expertise as an instructor at the US Army Judge Advocate General school in Charlottesville, Virginia. Joe was also honored to serve as a member of the adjunct faculty of the US Army Command and General Staff College at Leavenworth, Kansas, and the faculty of the First Army Intelligence School at Ft. Meade, Maryland.

Joe earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1970. He graduated from Suffolk University Law School in 1973 and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar that same year. He began his legal career practicing with Attorney Jim Rooney in Palmer, Massachusetts, before opening his own private practice, Law Offices of Joseph R. White in Palmer. He was joined by his daughter, Elizabeth, in 2007 and together they created White Law Offices, P.C. Joe proudly owned and operated the practice for 50 years.

Throughout his legal career, Joe was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association and the Hampden County Bar Association. He was admitted to practice before the Massachusetts Federal District Court, the Court of Military Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He also served as Assistant Register of the Hampshire Division of Probate and Family Court in Northampton, and as a law clerk to Justices of the Massachusetts Superior Court.

Deeply committed to civic service, Joe served as Town Moderator for the Town of Belchertown for 20 years. Outside of his professional life, he held a private pilot’s license and enjoyed reading, listening to music, spending time with his grandchildren, and proudly attending their sporting events.

Joe recalls many significant memories during his life with his late wife Phyllis and treasures the many accomplishments of his children, especially when he was honored to administer to Peter the oath of induction into the military service; to make the motion to the US Supreme Court to admit Elizabeth to the bar of that court; and to witness Susan receive the Greenspoon Foundation award for excellence in teaching.

Joe was predeceased by his beloved wife, Phyllis A. (Hoffman) White, in 2025; his sister, Beverly Sherman; and his nephew, Eric Sherman.

He is survived by his son, Peter White; his daughter, Elizabeth Chouinard and her husband Robert of South Hadley; and his stepdaughter, Susan Murphy and her husband Daniel of Belchertown. He is also survived by his eight cherished grandchildren.

Joe will be remembered for his unwavering integrity, dedication to service, love of family, and the many lives he touched throughout his distinguished career.

Calling hours will be held on Thursday, May 14th from 4:00pm-7:00pm at the Beers & Story Belchertown Funeral Home. Funeral service will be held on Friday, May 15th at 12:00pm at the funeral home followed by burial at 2:00pm with military honors at the Massachusetts Veterans' Cemetery in Agawam.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Joes memory to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.