Dr. John H. (Jack) White

John H. (Jack) White went to be with his Savior and Lord on March 11, 2021 and now awaits the second coming of Jesus and the resurrection of the bodies of those who trust Jesus as their Savior.

Dr. White was born on June 14, 1936 in Newburgh, NY, the son of John and Ethel Perry White. He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Norma Woods White. He is survived by his wife of 8 years Mary E. Veith Tait White, his daughters Natalie (Ray) Austin and Stephanie White, and also by his grandchildren Asa, Aiden, Matthew, and Max Austin; Steven (Simona), Jennifer, and Janelle White. Also included are his “bonus” children, Neil Tait (Beth), Ross Tait, Holly Ryan and grandchildren, Jeffery, Samuel, and Natalie.

Dr. White was a 1958 graduate of Geneva College, the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the University of Pittsburgh (Ph.D). He received a Doctor of Ministry degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in 1977.  Dr. White was the pastor of  College Hill R.P. Church from 1962-1970. In 1970 he was called to serve at Geneva College in what would become various offices: Dean of Religious Services, Vice President for Religious Services and Church Relations, and Associate Professor of Biblical Studies.

          He was one of the framers of the “Foundational Concepts of Christian Education” that he helped to write in 1967 that has defined Geneva’s Christ centered educational philosophy.

In 1991 he was elected as the 18th President of Geneva College and served until 2004.

After his retirement in 2004 he continued to serve Geneva by teaching and assisting his successors, Presidents Ken Smith and Calvin Troup.

Dr. White was one of the founders of the Beaver County Christian School in 1967 and Tiger Pause Youth Ministry in 1982.  He was also active in the community serving on such Boards as Ellwood City Hospital and Housing Opportunities of Beaver County.

He was also privileged to be a leader in the Evangelical Christian community both in Western Pennsylvania and nationally. Dr. White was a constituting Board member of the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO), on the Committee for the Billy Graham Crusade of 1993 in Pittsburgh, a member of The Pittsburgh Offensive that sought strategic ways to reach the city for Christ, an organizer of the Center for Urban Biblical Ministry (CUBM) in Pittsburgh, an organizer of the Center for Urban Theological Studies (CUTS) in Philadelphia, a member of the Urban Impact Foundation Board in Pittsburgh, and a member of the board of City Rescue Mission.

Nationally he served as Vice-President and later the President of the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) in 1990-1991 and the Chairman of the Board of the World Relief Commission of the NAE from 1987-1994.

He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Westminster Theological Seminary from 1986-2016 and Chairman of that Board from 1989-2015.

From 1983-2014, he was a member of the Board of God’s World which publishes World Magazine and other on-line news venues.

He was the author of several chapters in books published by various evangelical publishers and the author of two chapters in, and editor of, The Book of Books, a book in honor of Dr. J.G. Vos, recently published by Crown and Covenant Publishers and the author of a book published by Great Commission Publishers entitled From Slavery to Servanthood. In 1988-1991 he was the publisher of Christian Scholar’s Review.

In addition to writing, advising, and organizing, Jack was a frequent preacher throughout Western Pennsylvania and in the Reformed and Evangelical Community nationwide.

These are but examples of Jack’s ministry and influence, but Jack would want everyone to say, “To God alone be the Glory!”

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday April 24, at 1:00PM at Metheny Fieldhouse, on Geneva College.  Required registration for all attendees is at Geneva.edu/johnwhitememorial. (Due to a limit of 500 persons)

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Geneva College, 3200 College Ave., Beaver Falls, PA, 15010, designated for the John H. White Chapel renovations.

Arrangements by Hill & Kunselman Funeral Home, www.hillandkunselman.com,

3801-4th Avenue, Beaver Falls, PA 15010.

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