George H. White Jr. | Former counselor, 84

George H. White Jr., 84, a retired guidance counselor at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, died Tuesday of complications from Parkinson's disease at Cathedral Village in Andorra.

Mr. White graduated from Radnor High School and served in the Army Air Corps in Guam during World War II. After his discharge, he earned a bachelor's degree from West Chester University and later received a master's degree in education and childhood development from Temple University.

He taught geography and history at Williams Junior High School in Cheltenham before becoming a guidance counselor at Plymouth Meeting High School in 1963. Former students used to stop him on the street, his son John said, to thank him and tell him they wouldn't have gotten into college without his support and direction. Mr. White was a member of the Service Academy Selection Committee for Delaware County and encouraged students to apply to the Army, Navy and Air Force Academies.

In the 1970s, he served on the Episcopal Services Committee in Philadelphia. He served as a vestryman over the years at three area Episcopal churches.

Mr. White was a Mason, hiking enthusiast, past treasurer of the Philadelphia Trail Club, and member of two barbershop choruses: the Whitemarsh Militiamen and the Bryn Mawr Mainliners. In 2006, he fulfilled a dream when he and his family visited his ancestral home in Northern Ireland. He had been a Phillies fan since the Athletics left town after the 1954 season, his son said.

Mr. White was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 1988, a year before he retired from teaching. He managed the disease with optimism, adapted to challenges, and kept a pleasant outlook until the end, his son said.

In addition to his son, Mr. White is survived by his wife of 52 years, Helen Whayne White; sons George III and Gregory; and four grandchildren.

A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow at St. Martin's in the Field Church, where he was a member for 22 years. The church is at 8000 St. Martin's Lane, Philadelphia. Burial will be in St. Thomas Churchyard, Whitemarsh.