Marvin L. White

Marvin Leslie White, age 97, of Seneca, Kansas passed away on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at Crestview Manor Nursing Home in Seneca.

Marvin was born on December 15, 1925, to George and Hazel (Weir) White in Vesta, Nebraska.  The family moved to Summerfield, Kansas in March of 1939.  Marvin enlisted in the United States Army and served from 1945 to 1946.  He completed infantry training as well as Military Police training. 

Marvin married Mary Jo Gress in October of 1963.  They had two children and celebrated 51 years of marriage.

After being honorably discharged, Marvin went into construction and built oil warehouses in many states.  He also helped build Atlas missile silos, hospitals, grain elevators, courthouses, schoolhouses, and banks.  He was a member of The Carpenters Union for 50 years.  While working in construction, Marvin also helped his dad on the family farm, and kept working on the farm until 1985.  In his spare time, he also learned to pilot single engine airplanes.  From 1985 to 1990, Marvin was the noxious weed supervisor in Marshall County.  Then, in 1991, he started working for the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and continued with the KDOT until 2010.

Marvin and Mary Jo enjoyed traveling to Ireland twice, England, France, Germany, and other European countries.  During his lifetime, Marvin traveled throughout the United States and had visited forty of the fifty states, and he also enjoyed traveling to Mexico and Canada.  In September of 2015, Marvin, along with 50 other veterans, was afforded the opportunity to participate in the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. to celebrate veterans in a day of honor at our nation’s memorials. 

Marvin was an active member of the Summerfield and Marshall County communities.  He served as treasurer for the Holy Family Church in Summerfield and was on the cemetery committee.  He also served as treasurer for St. Bridget township in Summerfield for four years.  In addition, he was the commander of The American Legion Post #163 in Marysville, Kansas, and the Marshall County Council of the American Legion.  He also was a member of American Legion Post 316 in Summerfield for many years.  He enjoyed working with youth, serving as a 4-H club/project leader for the Richland Center 4-H club in Oketo, Kansas.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Jo; his stepdaughter, Judy Gress; his sister and brother-in-law, Esther and Martin Akin; and his sister, Merleen Ann White.   

Marvin is survived by his stepson, Michael Gress; his grandchildren, Johnny Seiter, Megan (Seiter) Darke, and Matthew Gress; and his five great-grandchildren.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Seneca, Kansas.  Marvin will lie in state at the Popkess Memorial Chapel in Seneca starting at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 22, 2023.  A visitation will be held on Wednesday evening, February 22, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a rosary prayed at 7:00 p.m. at the Popkess Memorial Chapel.  The interment with full military honors will be made in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Baileyville, Kansas.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Kansas Honor Flight and Crestview Manor Nursing Home sent in care of the Popkess Memorial Chapel, 814 Castle, Seneca, Kansas 66538.