Ross L. White was born on September 15, 1890, in Seagull, North Carolina. White was a farmer and stock raiser when the United States rolled out a draft program to fight World War I. Subsequently, White was pulled into the service in September 1917. He was first assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 321st Infantry but was later transferred to Company I, 120th Infantry. He was killed in action on September 1, 1918.