Thomas Millard "Tom" White, 92, of Hartland, VT passed away December 14, 2023, in Windsor, VT. Tom was born at home in Hartland on March 20, 1931, the first day of Spring. He was the eldest son and third of nine children of Millard Thomas White and Marion Lobdell White.

Tom lived his entire life in the Town of Hartland. He graduated from Windsor High School in 1948, then worked briefly at the former Homestead Dairy. He was drafted into the Army in 1952 and sent to Japan, then Korea. Upon his return in 1953, he went to work at M.T. White & Sons sawmill and lumberyard in Hartland alongside his father. He later went to work as one of the original employees at Vermont Log Buildings/Real Log Homes until his retirement in 1994. His positions there varied from laborer to supervisor to manager and he was extremely proud of his role in building the company.

1955 was an auspicious year for Tom as he married his beloved Anne (Allen) on June 18, 1955, a union that lasted 68 years. As an added bonus that year, his favorite team the Brooklyn Dodgers won the World Series for the first time. Tom and Anne lived in their first and only home for 68 years. He practically re-built it from the ground up with his many built-ins, dormers, cubbies, sheds and garages. He could often be seen mowing and shoveling and working on the house until just a few months ago. His legacy there is the "condos"; extensive sheds with many fine details such as individually hand-hewn wooden "bricks".

Tom was a proud yet humble, hard-working man with an incredible work ethic he instilled in his family. One of his first building projects was a one-room house he built in the backyard of his family home, as a 4-H project when he was 12; with clapboard siding, plumb and framed walls, windows and doors. The house still stands today, 80 years later. He built things to last.

In his younger years, he was an athlete and loved playing in and managing the local town baseball team the Hartland Wildcats, alongside the Windsor and Hartland "boys". He played ice hockey for a time and started a town basketball team. His life-long love of Cadillacs formed in his youth and he proudly owned one into his 90's. He loved to dance, especially with Anne, to the sounds of big bands, particularly the "Moonlighters". He always danced with anyone who was willing and was the last one to leave the floor.

Tom had a strong sense of community and dearly loved the Town of Hartland; his family referred to him as the "Prime Minister". He served on the selectboard for 25 years, including a time as chair; and served on several other town committees. Even after he stepped down, he was a near daily visitor to the Town office, keeping up with town affairs and offering his advice. He was a skilled carpenter, builder and craftsman. His family treasures the dressers, and myriad small tables he built by hand for us. He helped his grandfather build many houses and buildings in Hartland. He would proudly point them out if you were lucky enough to go on one of "Tom's Tours" of Hartland. He knew the back roads of Hartland like the back of his hand, being the de facto "road commissioner". He felt a sense of stewardship for the town and took daily drives to be sure the roads were in ship-shape.

Tom was an intelligent, talented, creative man. He was a salt-of-the-earth man, practical, thrifty, but quietly generous and a true character. He had well-formed opinions on many topics and was always happy to share his thoughts or engage in a friendly debate (he could always solidly back up his opinions with facts). His most memorable quality was his quick wit and dry sense of humor. It was difficult to interact with him and not smile or laugh. Many hours at family gatherings were spent cracking up at one of his jokes or watching him act out some youthful exploit with a facial expression to match. Quite often he couldn't get to the punchline, he was laughing so hard at himself. No one took more delight in Tom's humor than Tom.

Tom was pre-deceased by his parents, brother Phillip White; sisters Jean Rugg (Bob), Mary Davis (Lawrence), Virginia Ide, Nancy Dow (Vincent) and brother-in-law William "Bill" Allen. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife Anne, as well as children Jeffrey White and spouse Jill Spencer-White, Rebecca Gross and spouse Carl Gross, Mitchell White and spouse Lori (Tenney) White, Gretchen White and spouse Karen Bisbee, and Matthew White and spouse Glenda (O'Connor) White. He also leaves grand-children Tyler Freeman-Rosales and spouse Rey Rosales, Riley White and spouse Walter Todt, Connor White and spouse Bethany White (and soon to be great grandbaby White), Ethan White and Morgan White. In addition, he is survived by brothers Richard White (Edith), Robert "Bobby" White, and Paul White (Janie); sister-in law Jean Allen, and brother-in-law Jim Ide, as well as several cousins and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

Calling hours will be at the Knight Funeral Home in Windsor VT on Tuesday, December 19th, 2023 from 4 to 6pm. A graveside service will be held at 11am on Monday, April 15, 2024, at the Hartland Village Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Hartland Volunteer Fire Department, or the Visiting Nurse & Hospice, in his memory.

Tom was many things to many people. Please write down your best memory (or memories) of Tom to leave at the calling hours.

Our heartfelt thanks to the VNH hospice staff and the very personal and professional care he received from the amazing staff at Cedar Hill Memory Care. We are so grateful.