John Paul White

John Paul White, 90, longtime Lubbock resident, passed away peacefully with family by his side in Boerne, Texas, on Friday, October 13, 2023.

John was born November 5, 1932, in San Antonio, Texas to the late Rev. Risley Earl White, Sr and Sarah Louise Leckie White. He was the third of five sons – Lt. Col. R.E. White, Jr. (Earl), Alex, Douglas and Richard.  He also had two older stepsiblings, William and Inez.

John joined the Navy Reserves in 1952 and went on active duty from Oakland, California.  After basic training in San Diego, he was stationed on the U.S.S. Navasota, a fleet oiler.  For the next 22 months, he sailed back and forth from Long Beach, California, to Hawaii, stopping in Guam.  He then headed for his overseas home port of Sasebo, Japan, celebrating his 21^st birthday aboard ship.

In 1962, John married Marlene Kaiser, the mother to his four children: Daryl, Greg, Debra and Patricia. Later in life, he married Sarah Lynch Yeisley, on April 22, 2000, who he credits for his adult spiritual training.  John did not go inside a church after he left San Antonio for about 43 years.  Without Sarah’s perseverance, John believes he was only a baby in Christ until he met her in 1985.

John was a successful salesman by trade with a passion for fishing when he was younger and an even larger passion for serving the Lord with his wife Sarah.

John felt a calling in 1994 to serve the Lord through prison ministry.  This turned into a passion for John, a very rewarding experience where he witnessed God touching the lives of others.  John completed extensive training, even becoming an Assistant Chaplain in 2004 at Montford prison in Lubbock.  John continued this ministry as long as he was able, serving 17 years.

John is preceded in death by his loving wife Sarah, parents, three brothers, and two half-siblings.

John is survived by his children, Daryl White of Irving, Texas; Greg White (Debbie) of Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas; Debra White of Harper, Texas; Patricia White Renick (John) of Iola, Texas; stepchildren Randy Yeisley (Stephanie) of Wichita, Kansas; and Missy Lorenz of Littlefield, Texas.  John and Sarah were blessed with ten grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Visitation, fellowship and remembrance will be Thursday, October 19, 2023, from 6-8:00 pm at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers in Lubbock. Service and Celebration of Life will be Friday, October 20, 2023, at 10:00am at LakeRidge Baptist Church followed by interment with military honors at Peaceful Gardens in Lubbock.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Lake Ridge Baptist Church Kids and Youth Ministries.

The family would like to extend their appreciation to Cibolo Creek Health and Rehabilitation Center as well as Ave Maria Hospice for their loving care. We are truly touched by your ministries.

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