Jim White was born December 31, 1936 to John and Orpha White. He grew up in Orville, near Parry Sound.

In 1954 he was the valedictorian of Parry Sound High School. He attended the University of Toronto for one year before working on the Avro Arrow project in Malton until it was scrapped.

Jim used his time wisely and lived a full life.  - from Jim's obituary by his wife Carol White

Jim then became a land surveyor in 1965.

He joined the family in 1964, marrying Carol Smith of Parry Sound. They had three sons - Rob, Ian and Vance. They celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 2014.

From 1970 to 1995, Jim owned his own surveying practice. He loved to read, and take photographs, playing music, composing songs, and travelling. He was also a councilor and reeve of Christie Township.