Parker County Today February 2020 | Page 110

our neighbor: MINERAL WELLS By MELISSA MOORMAN W hite’s Funeral Home, located at 101 NE 4th St. in Mineral Wells, is one of four family-owned funeral homes owned by the White family. The busi- ness began in 1908 in Springtown when W.A. White began selling coffins for the general mercantile store. White had always dreamed of owning and operat- ing his own business, and in 1914 an opportunity arose for White to start an undertaking company in Weatherford. He saw the future of the business and saw that the funeral home, and specifi- cally the funeral director, would become an important factor in guiding families while making funeral arrangements for loved ones. Expanding his business in 1932, White built his first funeral home in Weatherford just off the downtown square. This location continues to serve as the home office for all four family- owned funeral homes. White continued to innovate his busi- ness by establishing East Greenwood Cemetery in Weatherford and organiz- ing the W.A. White Burial Association. One of the first burial insurance compa- nies in the state, the Burial Association was designed to help anyone wishing to pre-arrange funeral services. This helped alleviate the burden of planning a funeral during the process of griev- ing. Desiring to return to his “old home place” and bring the business back to where he started, he opened another funeral home in Springtown in 1954.  As it is in all of the communities they serve, White’s Funeral Home and its employees are very involved in the local community. “We are members of the Mineral Wells Chamber of Commerce, we support local charities and non-profit organizations, we also become involved in community education and outreach 108 Bob White (sitting), Anita White, Zack Bellenger