James Richard White was born on June 13, 1944 in Chicago Illinois. His parents were Edward Joseph White, and Katherine Kinkade White. He had one brother two years older: William Joseph White. Eight years later, his sister Leslie Sondra White Lutzow was born.

Home life was broken, stressful, and unsupportive for Jim. He and Bill grew up on the streets.

He went to Monroe Elementary in Logan Square, but transferred to Midwest Christian Academy in the 7th grade. The quality and care of those teachers made a significant difference for him.

Jim became a believer in Christ when he was 8 years old, and immediately started telling some of his friends. The love from the Lord became his motivation for overcoming and persevering.

Jim attended Schurz High School in Chicago, where he was a track star, competing in the quarter mile, cross country, pole vaulting, and earning numerous medals.

Every summer, the family went up to Hayward Wisconsin, as his Dad loved to fish and eventually bought a fishing resort. Jim worked the resort, and fished and water skied all summer, and served as a life guard. For him it was the best thing ever! A break from the city and the home life. He loved it! He became an expert fisherman and guide. They'd say on the radio, ""Musky Jim" caught another one today!"

He served as a Deacon in the Logan Square Free Church when he was only 18, and taught weekly at the boys club at church as well as Sunday School for grade school boys. He loved making the Bible Stories exciting!

Jim went to Wright Junior College for his Associates degree. Extra jobs were audio visual, working for UPS, and Mackey Vending.

A tremendous athlete, he again did track and field in college. The team competed in the Daley News Relay at the Chicago Stadium, against the other City Junior Colleges. He broke his own record - running the quarter in 50.1 seconds - really fast!! They were City Champions!

Jim was drafted into the Viet Nam War and served two years in the Army. He was a top crypto clearance intelligence clerk, and medic.

It was in Viet Nam that Jim joined a Navigator's Bible Study with other soldiers, and learned to paraphrase Scripture. That was life changing for him and began a quest.

During monsoon season, some men were drowning in the rice paddies with their heavy backpacks. The Army decided they needed to make sure everyone could swim. So in the last four months of Jim's tour, openings came up for life guard and swim instructor.

Everyone wanted this job!! At least you wouldn't get shot at! Almost 2000 men applied and only Jim and 5 others were chosen. He was thrilled! However, it was right at the edge of the jungle where Agent Orange, the potent and toxic defoliant was routinely sprayed to take away the enemy's hiding place. The lush green foliage would disappear overnight. Then the heavy dust would waft into the pool, so thick you couldn't see your hand in the water.

With everything that happened in those two years - his training, what he had seen, experienced, and been through, it changed him. When Jim went into the Army, he was a youth. When he came back from Viet Nam, he was a man. And he was afraid of no man.

Jim married and had two beautiful children - a son, Gale Christopher, and a daughter, Melissa Michelle.

He got a degree in electronics from DeVry Institute of Technology. At least now he could fix his own television set!

Jim worked for the Chicago Transit authority for 25 years, and retired at 52. He worked his way up from bus driver, line instructor, supervisor, to instructor and Federal safety officer. He faced a good bit of danger in the city. As he trained people, he had tremendous opportunity to mentor and help those who were having difficulty or personal problems, including veterans. To him, that was the most fulfilling part of his job. He learned to deal with people from every ethnic group, religion, and cultural background, and always seemed to find a way to relate. He impacted many lives during those 25 years, and some are in the Kingdom because of it.

Jim developed a passion for theology, and read and read and read! He served as a Ruling Elder in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and did a great deal of preaching, as well as teaching. One-on-one mentoring and investing in people was something he did his entire life. As an Elder, he sometimes had to stand alone, and fight for his convictions.

After experiencing great heart-break in his first marriage, he met Anita Joyce Pankratz, and they were married in 1988. In her he found the love that had eluded him his whole life.

They were married 28 years, and were deeply blessed all the way to the end. He cherished her more than words can say.

He loved fishing, theology, opera, singing, boxing, and was in the church choir. He was a terrific story teller, a fighter, and a romantic. He had a razor sharp wit and keen mind, and loved to debate, especially theology. He and Anita traveled to England, Scotland, Australia, Alaska, and all around the United States, and Canada.

In the areas he pursued, he strove to attain the best level of excellence he could, whether in sports, the workplace (Employee of the Year 1977), as an elder and theologian, or as a champion fisherman, (10 trophy catches, averaging 50 inches). He even had the winning catch for the "Musky Festival" contest in Hayward WI.

Whether it involved Anita's performing as a pianist or vocalist, her music teaching studio, or her spokesperson work, she counted on Jim's honest critique, and he would give it. But in everything she did, he was her greatest support. When she was particularly good, he would beam and say to a bystander, "That's my wife!"

When Jim and Anita married, Gale lived with them, and Melissa joined them a few years later. Melissa was special needs - a pretty, fun loving companion with a good sense of humor. Anita tutored her daily, and she learned to read, cook, do laundry, and develop personal skills.

Gale was a handsome, hard working entrepreneur, who loved to sing, dance, write poetry, was a track star like his Dad, winning numerous awards, and also a romantic. He deeply loved his sister and planned to care for her when the time came. He was killed in 1994. Jim and Anita were looking forward to a wedding and grandchildren. Instead, they had 2 and a half years of a murder trial.

Shorty after that, Melissa went back to live with her mother, and that was the last Jim saw of his daughter.

A few years later, symptoms of Parkinson's developed. Five years after that, he had an angioplasty gone bad where the artery ripped, requiring a 35 minute resuscitation and open heart surgery. A couple of years after that, lymphoma.

Anita researched everything she could to find out "what in the world was wrong," and to find every treatment available to increase his quality of life.

It turns out that Agent Orange poisoning from Viet Nam was at the root of everything, and since 2012, Jim was part of the VA family.

Jim was an incredible man of exceptional and diverse abilities, but most of all, he gloried in his Savior. He persevered through trial all of his life, and never quit believing that God loved him. When his health was going bad, one of his great joys was doing Bible study with a blind friend. Jim knew where he was going and had no fear.

Jim entered the presence of his Lord quietly and peacefully at home with hospice on January 14, 2017, with Anita caring for him until the end. He was surrounded by family and friends. He will be deeply missed. He touched many lives. He left a legacy.


For I am already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved his appearing. - II Timothy 4:7


Memorial Celebration
Monday Evening, February 27, 6:00PM

College Church
332 East Seminary
Wheaton IL 60187

Interment Tuesday morning
11:00 with Military Honors

Irving Park Cemetery
7777 W. Irving Park Road
Chicago IL 60634

Memorial gifts may be directed to:

Leadership Resources International
12575 Ridgeland Avenue
Palos Heights IL 60463

World Relief DuPage Aurora
1825 College Ave. suite 230
Wheaton IL 60187


Jim is survived by his wife, Anita White, daughter Melissa, brother Bill, sister Leslie, nephews Peter, Timothy, and Jim, nieces Naomi, Shannon, Diana, Brittany, Lindsay, great nephews and nieces, as well as Anita's family - her mother, 3 siblings and spouses, nieces and nephews and spouses, and great nieces and nephews, who embraced him as "Uncle Jim."