Michael White

(From Derfelt Funeral Home)

Michael James White, 72, Columbus, died Saturday, May 31, 2025

Born November 7, 1952 at the San Diego Naval Hospital, Michael was the son of John L. and Betty Jo White.

Michael attended grade school through high school in Columbus, graduating with Columbus Unified High School Class of 1971. He attended NEO in Miami, Oklahoma for two years after graduation before furthering his education the University of Houston in Houston, Texas.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree, he worked for ARCO Oil and Gas in various states across the country. After ARCO, he returned to Kansas to begin raising his young family. He began work by selling insurance for both Prudential and Farm Bureau. While working full time, he went back to school at Pittsburg State University where he earned a master’s degree in education and received his teaching certificate. He then transitioned into a second career by becoming an educator at the Mound Valley, Cherokee, Joplin, and Pittsburg school districts.

Never content with simply teaching at each institution, Mike was an active coach for middle, junior, and high school sports such as football, basketball, track, and golf. After retiring from teaching, Mike continued to provide for his family by working at Downstream for ten years before retiring for good in 2019.

While working for ARCO and living in Tulsa, OK, Mike was introduced to a beautiful brunette named Melody. After a few years of long-distance dating, he married the former Melody Wilson of Springfield, MO, August 28, 1982. Melody was, and always will be, the love of his life for over 42 years. During that time, they raised three amazing children and enjoyed eight wonderful grandchildren.

Michael loved being a father, often saying his greatest accomplishment was raising his three kids. He was always their most passionate and dedicated supporter, traveling thousands of miles to coach, train, or simply cheer them on. Whether it was at a football fame, softball tournaments, Boy Scout camp out, band concert, or dance recital, he was always in the crowd, (and often easy to locate) and made time to be present and encourage them through each season and numerous activities.

Always the avid reader, Mike enjoyed trading and learning about history and was enamored by the culture of the American West his entire life. Mike was also an incredibly social individual. He always enjoyed engaging with others from different walks of life and made new friends everywhere he went. Incredibly loyal, he never passed up an opportunity to have dinner or stop to chat with his local friends, many of whom he’s known since high school.

Michael loved traveling to all the different places that his kids and his grandkids lived. At home he found entertainment by watching westerns, documentaries and sports with his faithful dog Mitzie by his side. Mike loved to tell stories about his children and grandchildren, often talking about them for hours. He was intentional with each child and grandchild attending every activity he could and telling everyone that his grandkid was the best.

He was preceded in death by his father John White, and his brother, John Ed White.

Survivors include his mother, Betty Jo White, his wife, Melody White, his three children, Trenton White and wife Cassie, Trisha Holmes and husband, Derek, and Tracy Hudson and husband Tal; his eight grandchildren Kalia and Koda White, Aubrey, Blake and Camryn Holmes and Bo, Luke and Nate Hudson.

Memorials can be made either to St. Jude’s Hospital or Center Christian Church. Services will be managed by Derfelt Funeral Home in Columbus. A visitation will be held Thursday, June 5, from 6:00 –8:00 pm. The funeral will be at 10:00 am, on Friday, June 6, with internment immediately following at Park Cemetery, Columbus.