AN APPLETON builder was buried last week at the church where he was christened and married.

Eric White, 90, a member of the Whites of Appleton bellhangers family, died on May 22 after suffering a stroke following long stays in Abingdon Community Hospital and the John Radcliffe in Oxford.

His funeral was held on June 6 in Appleton’s St Laurence Church.

He was buried in the churchyard next to wife Betty, who passed away eight years ago. The couple married in 1947.

Mr White was born in the village’s church cottages on September 12, 1921. He had three older brothers and an older sister.

He went to Appleton School and did his bricklaying apprenticeship at construction firm Kingerlee. He worked there until his retirement in 1986.

He played cricket for Kingerlee’s team and for Appleton. He also played football for both Appleton and Longworth.

And he was an avid supporter of Oxford United, a season ticket holder and steward on away coaches.

When he was 20 he was called up to serve in the Second World War and he fought in North Africa and Italy.

He met Betty (nee Herridge) at a dance in Appleton Village Hall in 1946.

A year later he proposed to her on a bench in South Parks Road, Oxford – she was 19, he was 25. Their marriage lasted 56 years.

They had three children – Ian, Hilary and Richard, although Richard died aged just 16 months. The family moved to Dean Court, Botley, in 1953.

In retirement, the couple lived in Millway Lane, Appleton, and travelled around the world to places including Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Canada.

Mr White had six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and, in December last year, became a great-great-grandfather to Jonathan.