John William Allen White

Obituary For John White

Grieving over the sudden loss of his dear wife Phyllis Ann Mlynek (March, 2025), and suffering more and more from the gradual deterioration of his poor old body, John William Allen White (born July 10, 1953) passed away on February 8, 2026, at his home in Sun City West, Arizona. It was with great sadness that Dawn Hulett informed her sister Deborah White and brother Harry White of John’s passing.
His suffering is over.
John had no children. Though fatherhood wasn’t in the cards for him, brotherhood was. He was close to his brother and sisters. And a friend to his fellow man. Possessing congeniality of character, John touched the lives of everyone around him. “And that friendship is sweetest which is cemented by congeniality of character.” John was a thoughtful, good, and kind man. So, we, his siblings, mourn his passing. We mourn his passing but remember the special moments we shared. They are alive and well in our consciousness.
Special moments with John live on, and his spirit continues to light the hearts and comfort the souls of loved ones and friends alike. Let us do good like John. It is our duty. God rest his soul.
John has gone away. Not being able to hang out with him troubles us. But imagine what Jesus’ disciples were feeling: over the crucifixion and death of our Savior, intense, profound sorrow and despair, surely, concurrent with intense and profound joy, without a doubt, over Jesus preparing a place for them in Heaven, there to share wonderful moments with friends and loved ones everlastingly. The concurrence of unbridled joy and profound sorrow simply boggles the mind. “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Let us mourn death and celebrate life everlasting. Let us mourn and be comforted.
John wanted to make friends, early on in grade school at The First Lutheran Church of Temple City, where he listened attentively as Pastor Schultz and Mr. Lassanske took turns reading from the Scriptures, and later at Arcadia High School, then in Germany during a stint in the U.S. Army (3 years). He came back home and made friends at Pasadena City College, where he got into photography. Harry cherishes the photo of “The Brothers,” which captures his father Harry, his uncle Joseph, and John and him, taken in the early seventies. Then John left Pasadena to form new friendships in Rohnert Park, at Sonoma State University, and in Cotati, at Napa Auto Parts.
After completing his education, John moved to the Bay Area and worked for Crawford & Company, helping people settle claims, before relocating to Santa Barbara and joining The Santa Barbara BMW Riders motorcycle club. In the mid-sixties, his big brother raced around town on a Triumph Bonneville. But John had other ideas, touring ideas, and Lord knows the Triumph wasn’t built for touring. The BMW is, however. John loved hanging out with fellow members. He loved riding alongside Phyllis as they headed for a campground in some unknown part of the world. They lived in Oxnard. John and Phyllis retired and moved to Sun City West, AZ.
But by then, John was too weak and unsteady for a big, heavy two-wheeler, so he turned his attention to an old four-wheeler, a 1956 Ford Parklane station wagon that he nicknamed Frank (short for Frankenstein). Then he joined the Arizona Restoration Club (ARC) to get a little help from his friends. Finding parts to restore the Frankenwagen, a part here, a part there, was a monstrous undertaking, but he got by with a little help from his friends. And things were proceeding nicely, till the undertaker undertook to take him away. Rest in Peace, John.
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead, says the book of James in the Good Book. John had faith in God and Country, and he was full of good deeds till the end. Several weeks after the events in Butler, Pa., he gave Harry a call:
J: I can’t ride my motorcycle anymore.
H: I’m sorry to hear that. Why?
J: I’m too weak to lift it if I go down. I’m going to miss riding.
H: Remember Arlo Guthrie? I don’t want a pickle I just want to ride my motorcycle.
J: And I don’t want to die I just want to ride my moyorcy.
H: You remember. Why don’t you go to the gym and get strong?
J: It’s too late for that. I watch TV a lot. Did you see what happened in Butler?
H: I feel so helpless, John. Get a bike that weighs less.
J: I don’t want to talk about me. Men could die protecting Trump.
H: What men? J: The Secret Service. We should do something to show our support. Any ideas?
H: I’d be happy to load magazines for them.
J: Don’t be ridiculous. I know. I’ll load a bunch of Starbucks cards and drop them in the mail.
H: Coffee! That’s your big idea?
J: Being extra alert can’t hurt.

John loved God and Country, and he wasn’t ready to leave this earth. He just wanted to ride his motorcycle. Up with the Stars and Stripes. Down with the hammer and sickle. Rest in Peace, John.

We siblings will hold a service for John on Friday, April 24, at 11:00 at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona in Phoenix. Come, friends, let’s mourn and celebrate together.