Peter F.C. White

It is with deep sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend, Peter F.C.White at the age of 89. He passed peacefully with his 4 children by his side at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. He was predeceased by his wife Tina White (Unrau) who passed in 2023. He is survived by his children Janice (Doug), Angie (Kyle), Chris (Darlene) and Allison (Mike). 6 grandchildren, Kyle (Laurin), Cara (Shaun), Victoria, Owen, Thomas and Averi, and 2 great-grandchildren, Charlotte and Violet.

Peter was born to Frederick and Ida White on May 21, 1937, in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, England. Peter was the youngest of three children – older sister Margaret and brother George. He grew up on the family farm, Swindon Grange Farm, in Kirkby Overblow, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire. He attended school in Harewood, near Harewood House.

In his teens, Peter helped on the family farm. Peter was a member of the drama club in high school and played cricket for Harrogate Cricket Club, where his position as a bowler earned him high recognition. Tragically, Peter’s father, Frederick, accidentally died in 1955. His brother George and other extended family members had immigrated to Canada. At the age of 20, with courage and determination, Peter decided to follow with little in his pocket. Peter sailed from England and arrived in St. John, NewBrunswick in Dec 1957. From there, he took the train across Canada to Vancouver, where other White family members lived. He worked on various farms in South Surrey and Bradner area.He met a young lady named Tina at Krentz’s Chicken Farm, where they fell in love and married on March 19, 1965.

The young couple, determined for a better life, started a dairy farm on Bradner Rd in Aldergrove, BC. with Peter’s older brother, George and sister-in-law, June. The family quickly grew and in 1975, they decided to start a dairy farm of their own naming it Whitegrove Farm and moved to Riverside Rd in Matsqui Prairie. Their herd consisted of Guernsey’s and Holsteins. Peter joined the Abbotsford Cricket Club and played for a few years. Here they made lifelong friendships in the community and treasured them all.

In 1978 the family farm moved to Townshipline Rd. in Matsqui Prairie. Peter volunteered endless hours in the farming community as a 4-H leader for Mt Lehman Guernsey Calf Club. He showed some of his own Guernseys at various fairs working his way up to breeding the Guernsey Junior Champion at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto. He volunteered many years for Agrifair and put together the Agrifair Demonstration Milking Parlour. Peter was President of the BC and the Canadian Guernsey Association and Represented Canada at the World Guernsey Conference. He loved to visit farms in other countries as well as host farmers from around the world at his farm. He also mentored students from the agricultural program at UFV. During the PNE, Peter would bring his cows to showcase in the Livestock Building and started the Moo-ternity pen that soon gained popularity and continued to grow throughout the years

In 1994, Peter and Tina decided to expand the farm and purchased land with a house in Armstrong, BC. Here Peter designed and built a new parlour, cow barn and hayshed and moved their entire farm from Matsqui to Armstrong with their son Chris. Peter continued to volunteer and was involved with the IPE in Armstrong.

Here he continued participating in the Mooternity ward and milking parlour display. He also helped organize the World Guernsey Conference. 

Peter enjoyed travelling to England to visit friends and family. He also travelled all over Canada and around the world. Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, France. His favourite trip was to South Africa, which he continued to talk about. He cruised the Caribbean Islands and through the Panama Canal as well as a River cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sept 11^th at 1:00pm at Bradner Hall, 5305 Bradner Rd, Abbotsford. Refreshments will be served.

He had a special love for animals that brought him great joy throughout his life. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, the family is requesting a donation to the SPCA, Allan Brooks Nature Centre in Vernon or the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Arrangements entrusted to

Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services 250-558-0866

Condolences may be expressed to the family by phone or email through Cypress Funeral & Cremation Services: