James William White

James William White left us and this world at the age of 82 on May 14th, 2026. He passed at home in Osprey, FL, surrounded by the love of his wife Beth and a few family members.

Jim was born on September 30th, 1943, in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his father, James Samuel White, and his mother, Betty. He is survived by Beth, his sons Jeff and Jason, and sister Joan. He will also be greatly missed by his niece Jill and nephew James, as well as his grandchildren Taylor, Cooper, and Alexandra.

Although Jim was a native “Yooper” from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, he had aspirations beyond the never-ending winters of the great “White” North. After graduating from Northern Michigan University, he moved his young family to Chapel Hill, NC to attend Law School.

Jim’s first real job was as a Naval Intelligence Officer in Annapolis, MD, with a focus on investigations surrounding the Naval Academy and the Pentagon. Next came the FBI Academy in Quantico, VA, starting a distinguished career as a Special Agent. He worked in St. Louis, MO; Pittsburgh, PA; many years in Detroit, MI, and finally West Palm Beach, FL. Retiring from the FBI in 1996 at 53 years old, Jim and Beth moved from Boca Raton to Big Pine Key, then to their final home in Osprey, FL.

Jim loved his job as an Agent, working on such high-profile cases as the Jimmy Hoffa disappearance and many unpublicized cases such as successfully recovering a kidnapped young son of a wealthy businessman.

Along the way, in different offices, homes, and neighborhoods, he collected many lifelong friends.

Jim’s hobbies were renovating houses and an idyllic cottage on a northern Michigan island overlooking the Canadian shoreline. Unlike many men of his time, he did not have a penchant for “dream cars,” and he definitely did not play golf. He did, however, have a passion for the water, both warm and salty as well as cold and pure as Lake Superior. Having owned several Boston Whalers, he explored the islands, coves, and backwaters of the Great Lakes and Florida coasts.

James William White will be cremated, and his remains will join those of the doomed freighter The Edmund Fitzgerald under the swells of the greatest lake, embracing the shores of his birthplace.

Jim’s memorial service will be held Friday, June 5th, 1:00 pm at Farley Funeral Home, Venice, FL.

All that knew and loved him are welcome to join us celebrate his life as a husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle, friend, G Man, and yachtsman.