Individual Details
Gay Charles White
(21 Sep 1882 - 22 Jul 1963)
Gay White was born 21 September 1882, near La Cygne, Linn County, Kansas, the surviving member of a set of twins.
Gay White attended Missouri Wesleyan College and received his bachelor's degree from there in 1904. He received a master's degree and his bachelor of sacred theology from Boston University. He was a Methodist minister who served churches in St. Joseph, Missouri; Portland, Maine; Watertown, South Dakota; and several churches in central Illinois. He was a District Superintendent in South Dakota and in Springfield, Illinois. In his obituary in the Central Illinois Conference Journal for 1962 he is referred to as "a pioneer in interfaith and interracial matters." For many years, until shortly before his death he was a regular editorial writer for the 'Illinois State Journal and Register'. He died 22 July 1963 in Springfield, Illinois.
On 22 June 1905 he married Rose Law. She was born circa 1883 and died in Springfield, Illinois, on 11 October 1967. She graduated from Missouri Wesleyan University and taught school before her marriage.
There were five (5) children born of the marriage.
Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois, Tuesday, July 23, 1963, Page 4: Dr. Gay C. White, 80, Writer, Methodist Leader, Dies. Dr. Gay C. White, 80, of 2016 S. State St., a leader in the Methodist Church and in his later years totally blind, died at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Rutledge Manor Care Home. Dr. White was born in Kansas near LaCyne. He graduated from Missouri Wesleyan College in 1904. Dr. White received his master's degree and bachelor of sacred theology degree at Boston University and later received the honorary degree of doctor of divinity from Missouri Wesleyan College.
Very early 9in life Dr. White showed an interest in journalism. In his early teens he supplied the local news for the Chillicothe Tribune. White in college at Missouri Wesleyan in Cameroon, Mo., he was one of the originators of the college paper and a contributor to the college annual. For many years he has done reporting for different newspapers. His last assignments were editorial writing for the Illinois State Journal and Register.
Following graduation from theological school, he served church in several states including, Portland, Maine; St. Joseph, Mo.; First Church, Watertown, S.D.; and Illinois Methodist churches in Danville, Charleston, Laurel Methodist Church, Springfield, from 1935 to 1939 and in Monmouth. While pastor at Delavan he was forced to retire because of blindness. He served as district superintendent for one term in South Dakota and for a second term on the Springfield district.
As a resident of Springfield, he was active in many community and church organizations, serving as president of the Springfield Council of Churches. He was always a leader in interfaith and interracial matters.
In 1955, Dr. and Mrs. White celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Surviving are his widow, Rose Law White; three sons, Alfred K. of Springfield, Dr. Gordon B. White pastor of First Methodist Church of Normal, and Rev. Ronald H. White of Salinas, Calif.; two daughters, Mr. T. H. Sailor of Chicago and Mrs. H. B. Mills of Dayton, Ohio; ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Laurel Methodist Church with Rev. N. Felton Whittle officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The body is at the Smith Funeral Chapel.
Gay White attended Missouri Wesleyan College and received his bachelor's degree from there in 1904. He received a master's degree and his bachelor of sacred theology from Boston University. He was a Methodist minister who served churches in St. Joseph, Missouri; Portland, Maine; Watertown, South Dakota; and several churches in central Illinois. He was a District Superintendent in South Dakota and in Springfield, Illinois. In his obituary in the Central Illinois Conference Journal for 1962 he is referred to as "a pioneer in interfaith and interracial matters." For many years, until shortly before his death he was a regular editorial writer for the 'Illinois State Journal and Register'. He died 22 July 1963 in Springfield, Illinois.
On 22 June 1905 he married Rose Law. She was born circa 1883 and died in Springfield, Illinois, on 11 October 1967. She graduated from Missouri Wesleyan University and taught school before her marriage.
There were five (5) children born of the marriage.
Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois, Tuesday, July 23, 1963, Page 4: Dr. Gay C. White, 80, Writer, Methodist Leader, Dies. Dr. Gay C. White, 80, of 2016 S. State St., a leader in the Methodist Church and in his later years totally blind, died at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Rutledge Manor Care Home. Dr. White was born in Kansas near LaCyne. He graduated from Missouri Wesleyan College in 1904. Dr. White received his master's degree and bachelor of sacred theology degree at Boston University and later received the honorary degree of doctor of divinity from Missouri Wesleyan College.
Very early 9in life Dr. White showed an interest in journalism. In his early teens he supplied the local news for the Chillicothe Tribune. White in college at Missouri Wesleyan in Cameroon, Mo., he was one of the originators of the college paper and a contributor to the college annual. For many years he has done reporting for different newspapers. His last assignments were editorial writing for the Illinois State Journal and Register.
Following graduation from theological school, he served church in several states including, Portland, Maine; St. Joseph, Mo.; First Church, Watertown, S.D.; and Illinois Methodist churches in Danville, Charleston, Laurel Methodist Church, Springfield, from 1935 to 1939 and in Monmouth. While pastor at Delavan he was forced to retire because of blindness. He served as district superintendent for one term in South Dakota and for a second term on the Springfield district.
As a resident of Springfield, he was active in many community and church organizations, serving as president of the Springfield Council of Churches. He was always a leader in interfaith and interracial matters.
In 1955, Dr. and Mrs. White celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Surviving are his widow, Rose Law White; three sons, Alfred K. of Springfield, Dr. Gordon B. White pastor of First Methodist Church of Normal, and Rev. Ronald H. White of Salinas, Calif.; two daughters, Mr. T. H. Sailor of Chicago and Mrs. H. B. Mills of Dayton, Ohio; ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Laurel Methodist Church with Rev. N. Felton Whittle officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery. The body is at the Smith Funeral Chapel.
Events
| Birth | 21 Sep 1882 | La Cygne, Linn Co., Kansas |  | ||
| Marriage | 22 Jun 1905 | Rose Law | | ||
| Death | 22 Jul 1963 | Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois | | ||
| Burial | Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield, Sangamon Co., Illinois | |
Families
| Spouse | Rose Law (1883 - 1967) |
| Child | Alfred Kirke White (1906 - 2002) |
| Child | Audrey Priscilla White (1907 - 2003) |
| Child | Gordon B. White (1909 - 1995) |
| Child | Ronald H. White (1911 - 1993) |
| Child | Margaret Rose White (1918 - 2009) |
| Father | William Jasper White (1841 - 1916) |
| Mother | Catherine Serena Kirkpatrick (1843 - 1887) |
| Sibling | Daisy Isadore White (1870 - 1937) |
| Sibling | Lillian Josephine White (1872 - 1942) |
| Sibling | Jesse Alfred White (1876 - 1906) |
| Sibling | Julia "Gertrude" White (1879 - 1939) |
| Sibling | Guy White (1882 - 1882) |
Endnotes
1. A Kirkpatrick Genealogy; Melvin Kirkpatrick & David Hudson, 1995.
2. Find A Grave.
3. Obituary of Dr. Gay C. White, Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois, Tuesday, July 23, 1963, Page 4.
4. Obituary of Dr. Gay C. White, Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois, Tuesday, July 23, 1963, Page 4.
5. A Kirkpatrick Genealogy; Melvin Kirkpatrick & David Hudson, 1995.
6. Obituary of Dr. Gay C. White, Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois, Tuesday, July 23, 1963, Page 4.
7. Find A Grave.
8. Obituary of Dr. Gay C. White, Daily Illinois State Journal, Springfield, Illinois, Tuesday, July 23, 1963, Page 4.
9. Find A Grave.