Carter Turberville White, 76, of Waynesboro, Pennsylvania passed away January 4, 2025 of natural causes following an October 2024 diagnosis of Minimal Change Disease, a kidney condition. Born in Leesburg, Virginia on December 4, 1948, Carter was the son of Elijah V. White and Mary P. White. In addition to his parents, his sister, Mary W. Ball, and his beloved wife of 51 years, Elizabeth C. White, predeceased him.
Carter grew up in Loudoun County, Virginia where he graduated from Loudoun County High School in 1967. He then received a Bachelor of Science in Physics in 1971 from Virginia Tech and a Doctor of Philosophy in Physics in 1976 from the University of Virginia. In the fall of 1976, he joined the U. S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Electronics Technology Division as a National Research Council postdoc. After finishing his postdoc, he was hired by the NRL Chemistry Division to build the Theoretical Chemistry Section, which he did.
Carter was internationally known for his research in physics, chemistry, and materials science. He was especially proud of his groundbreaking work on carbon nanotubes and molecular dynamics simulations of condensed-phase detonations and shock waves. Over the years he received numerous awards for his research including a Presidential Rank Award from the President of the United States. He was also elected to fellowship in the American Physical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the Washington Academy of Sciences.
Carter was committed to mentoring his younger colleagues with his former postdocs going on to become full professors of chemistry, physics, and materials science, leaders at other federal agencies and in industry, or NRL staff members. At NRL, he rose through the ranks to become an ST, a position held by some of the federal government’s most renowned scientists.
He is survived by his three beloved daughters, Mary Harsh (Matt) of Smithsburg, Maryland, Anne White (Chris) of Charleston, South Carolina, Betsy White of Somerville, Massachusetts, and his grandchildren Chesley and Eli Harsh. Carter was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who will be sorely missed
A memorial service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Leesburg, Virginia on April 10, 2025 at 2:30 P.M. with a reception immediately to follow. All are welcome to attend. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the CJD Foundation in honor of Carter and Elizabeth White.
