Tommy was a quirky little guy. I first became acquainted with him Bowie Junior High School, then on to OHS. His father worked for Phillips Petroleum and before Tommy's senior year, his family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma and his step father began work in the Phillips Corporate Offices and it was there that Tommy completed high school.
Walter Thomas "Tom" White (1947-2012)
Services for Walter Thomas "Tom" White will be held at 10:00 on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at the Voice of the Martyrs headquarters on Nowata Road in Bartlesville. Officiating with be Pastor Joe Colaw. Internment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Walker-Brown Funeral Home. The family will be receiving friends from 6-8 PM Monday, April 23, 2012 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be made to the "Voice of the Martyrs, Inc". Visit the website for information on how to donate at www.persecution.com
Walter Thomas White was born October 29, 1947 in Baton Rouge, LA to Royce and Dorothy Lowe (Shields) White. Tom White worked with Voice of the Martyrs, founded by Pastor Richard Wumbrand, more than 30 years. He served as VOM's executive director for more than 20 years, including years of incredible growth in the ministry's reach to support and work with persecuted Christians and to share their stores with the American Church. It was under his direction that the ministry relocated its headquarters to Bartlesville, Ok in 1991.
Tom married Maria "Ofelia" White of San Jose, Costra Rica on December 8, 1973, and the couple had two children, Dorothy and Danny. While teaching English in the Cayman Islands in the late 1970's, Tom made repeated flights over Cuba, where he dropped hundreds of thousands of gospels provided by the "Voice of the Martyrs" (at the time called Jesus to the Communist World). This was in response to Castro's ordered destruction of 100,000 Bibles by grinding them in sugar mills. In May 1979, White's private plane crashed on a Cuban Highway. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison. During his imprisonment at Combinado del Este Prison, Tom was able to fellowship with imprisoned leaders of the suffering church. After many prayers and letters to appeal from U.S. Congressmen, Mother Teresa and Christians around the world, White was released to be reunited with his family on October 27, 1980, Tom told the story of his work and imprisonment in his most famous written work, "Missiles over Cuba."
White also wrote other books, numerous articles and a monthly column in VOM's newsletter, which is sent to more than 5,000,000 homes in the U.S. He contributed to the million-selling book, "Jesus Freaks," written by Christian band D.C. Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs. White travelled to more than 100 nations, including many dangerous places in order to meet with persecuted Christians, deliver aid to them and document their stories with the persecuted Christians he had met in dozens of countries. Just weeks before his death, White traveled to China, where he met secretly with underground Bible School Students.
White received many honors over the years for his heart and diligence in presenting the plight of the persecuted church. In May 2001, Oklahoma Wesleyan University awarded him an honorary doctorate in ministry, for his work on behalf of the persecuted church worldwide. This award recognized his lifelong contribution, through books, films and articles, to the body of knowledge about the suffering Kingdom of God and call to appropriate Christian study and response.
White will be remembered for his ministry service, and as lover of people and adventure, literature, poetry and life. His enthusiasm for life will be missed by all who knew him.
Tom is survived by his wife, Maria Ofelia White, One daughter, Dorothy White Colaw and husband Michael, one son, Danny White and wife Casey all of Barltesville. One brother, Royce White and wife Valerie of Sun City, Florida, sister-in-law , Barbara White of Bartlesville. Two nephews, Gentry White of San Francisco, California and Austin White of Bartlesville. Niece, Jennifer Richardson of Mesquite, Texas. Step sister, Janet Smith and husband Terry of Temple, Texas. One great-aunt Millie Borengasser of Little Rock, Arkansas, his beloved family of Costa Rica and a host of friends around the world.
Tom was preceded in death by this parents, beloved step-father, Charles Shields, brother James Darrel White and step-brother, Michael Shields.
Billy Mac Brown
Tommy was a quirky little guy. I first became acquainted with him Bowie Junior High School, then on to OHS. His father worked for Phillips Petroleum and before Tommy's senior year, his family moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma and his step father began work in the Phillips Corporate Offices and it was there that Tommy completed high school.
Walter Thomas "Tom" White (1947-2012)
Services for Walter Thomas "Tom" White will be held at 10:00 on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at the Voice of the Martyrs headquarters on Nowata Road in Bartlesville. Officiating with be Pastor Joe Colaw. Internment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Walker-Brown Funeral Home. The family will be receiving friends from 6-8 PM Monday, April 23, 2012 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be made to the "Voice of the Martyrs, Inc". Visit the website for information on how to donate at www.persecution.com
Walter Thomas White was born October 29, 1947 in Baton Rouge, LA to Royce and Dorothy Lowe (Shields) White. Tom White worked with Voice of the Martyrs, founded by Pastor Richard Wumbrand, more than 30 years. He served as VOM's executive director for more than 20 years, including years of incredible growth in the ministry's reach to support and work with persecuted Christians and to share their stores with the American Church. It was under his direction that the ministry relocated its headquarters to Bartlesville, Ok in 1991.
Tom married Maria "Ofelia" White of San Jose, Costra Rica on December 8, 1973, and the couple had two children, Dorothy and Danny. While teaching English in the Cayman Islands in the late 1970's, Tom made repeated flights over Cuba, where he dropped hundreds of thousands of gospels provided by the "Voice of the Martyrs" (at the time called Jesus to the Communist World). This was in response to Castro's ordered destruction of 100,000 Bibles by grinding them in sugar mills. In May 1979, White's private plane crashed on a Cuban Highway. He was sentenced to 24 years in prison. During his imprisonment at Combinado del Este Prison, Tom was able to fellowship with imprisoned leaders of the suffering church. After many prayers and letters to appeal from U.S. Congressmen, Mother Teresa and Christians around the world, White was released to be reunited with his family on October 27, 1980, Tom told the story of his work and imprisonment in his most famous written work, "Missiles over Cuba."
White also wrote other books, numerous articles and a monthly column in VOM's newsletter, which is sent to more than 5,000,000 homes in the U.S. He contributed to the million-selling book, "Jesus Freaks," written by Christian band D.C. Talk and the Voice of the Martyrs. White travelled to more than 100 nations, including many dangerous places in order to meet with persecuted Christians, deliver aid to them and document their stories with the persecuted Christians he had met in dozens of countries. Just weeks before his death, White traveled to China, where he met secretly with underground Bible School Students.
White received many honors over the years for his heart and diligence in presenting the plight of the persecuted church. In May 2001, Oklahoma Wesleyan University awarded him an honorary doctorate in ministry, for his work on behalf of the persecuted church worldwide. This award recognized his lifelong contribution, through books, films and articles, to the body of knowledge about the suffering Kingdom of God and call to appropriate Christian study and response.
White will be remembered for his ministry service, and as lover of people and adventure, literature, poetry and life. His enthusiasm for life will be missed by all who knew him.
Tom is survived by his wife, Maria Ofelia White, One daughter, Dorothy White Colaw and husband Michael, one son, Danny White and wife Casey all of Barltesville. One brother, Royce White and wife Valerie of Sun City, Florida, sister-in-law , Barbara White of Bartlesville. Two nephews, Gentry White of San Francisco, California and Austin White of Bartlesville. Niece, Jennifer Richardson of Mesquite, Texas. Step sister, Janet Smith and husband Terry of Temple, Texas. One great-aunt Millie Borengasser of Little Rock, Arkansas, his beloved family of Costa Rica and a host of friends around the world.
Tom was preceded in death by this parents, beloved step-father, Charles Shields, brother James Darrel White and step-brother, Michael Shields.
Tommy reportedly committed suicide.