John Curtis White

John Curtis White, Sr., 88, died on January 15, 2015 at UMSMC at Dorchester. He was the founder of Johnny’s Shoe Shop.

John was born in Seaford, Delaware on January 31, 1926, to the late Elwood McCready and Ruth Elizabeth Curtis White. The family moved to Cambridge in 1929, and have made the city their home since then.

He graduated from Cambridge High School class of 1943. John learned the shoe repair business from George Meiser and, in 1948, opened his own shoe repair shop in a small building in the 700 Block of Race Street, where the Bradford House Apartments now stand. He called his business Johnny’s Shoe Shop. The retail portion of the business continued to grow until, in the mid-1960’s, Johnny’s moved to 524 Race Street, where it was located until the time of its closing in 1997.

One of the accomplishments of which John was most proud was the founding of the Richardson Maritime Museum. As the founder and first president of the museum, John spent countless hours writing grants and negotiating with local and state officials to launch the project.

When John was 12 years old, he and his family joined the Cambridge Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was dedicated to and loved his church, holding a number of offices during his lifetime including Sabbath School superintendent, Sabbath School teacher, and elder. He remained a member of the church until the time of his death.

On November 3, 1949, John married the former Betty Lee Moore of Chestertown, Maryland. In addition to his wife, John is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, John Curtis, Jr., and Sue Locklear White. He is also survived by three granddaughters and their husbands: Caroline Baker and Thomas A. Howell, V., Victoria Ashley and John Charles Willey, and Elizabeth Locklear and John Robert Russell, III. He is also survived by five great-grandchildren: Thomas A. Howell, VI, John White Howell, Eleanor Jones Howell, Kathleen Patricia Stanley, and Nathan Andrew Willey. In addition to his parents, John is predeceased by an infant daughter, Victoria Lynn, and a sister, Dorothy White Murphy.

A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, January 25, 2015 at the Cambridge Seventh-day Adventist Church. Visitation will be at the church from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., with a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Cambridge Seventh-day Adventist Church, 3105 Mallard Court, Cambridge, MD 21613. Arrangements are in the care of the Thomas Funeral Home, P.A. in Cambridge.