Rev. Paul Eugene White, 87, of Peoria, went home to be with the Lord at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2015, at Methodist Medical Center in Peoria, surrounded by family and friends.
He was born on August 19, 1928, in Richmond, IN, a son of Homer and Luella Jane (Hoover) White. They preceded him in death, along with eight siblings.
Rev. White is survived by his loving wife of over fifty-eight years, Esther (Wilson) White of Peoria; five children, Steven of Peoria (Lori) , Cindy (Jeff) Starks of Skokie, David (Rachel) of Peoria, Susan (John) Tyree of Lakewood, CO and Sandra (Jim) Ostrom of West Lafayette, IN; twelve grandchildren, Dan Starks, Jeremy Starks, Anastasia (White) Berkley, Ben White, Rae Starks, Elizabeth (White) Powers, Erika (Ostrom) Wolfschlag, Kayla Ostrom, Laura Tyree, Eric Tyree, Mac White and Grace White; two great grandsons; nieces and nephews; and many friends.
He spent his early years in Richmond, graduating from Richmond High School in 1947. He attended Olivet Nazarene College in Bourbonnais, earning two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Theology. He then attended Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO, graduating with a Master of Divinity.
Rev. White served as a minister of the Gospel for over fifty-five years, thirty years with the Nazarene Church in Indiana, Pennsylvania and Illinois and twenty-five years with the United Methodist Church in Illinois. During this time, he ministered in over fifteen churches, serving the Lord, loving people and winnings souls for Heaven. He also served as a youth director and choir director for twenty years and Vice President of the board at a Holiness Church Camp in Pennsylvania.
A Celebration of Life service will be at 3 p.m. CT on Tuesday, October 13, 2015, at Northside Church of the Nazarene in Peoria, with Dr. John Spohn officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be at 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 14, 2015, at Chester Cemetery in Chester, IN.