Marilynn Jean White

1924 - 2018

Marilynn Jean White 1924 - 2018
MOHAWK - On July 28, 2018, the gates of heaven opened and Marilynn Jean White danced on through into the waiting arms of her loving husband, Robert Edward White.
Marilynn, known by many as Jean, was born on January 14th, 1924, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to the late Eva Sadler and Herbin Miller. Weighing less than 2 pounds at birth, she was a survivor from the beginning. At the age of 16, she moved to Seattle, Washington, where she worked for Boeing Aircraft as a "Rosie The Riveter". Her story is held in the archives of the National Historic Trust WW II Rosie the Riveter Museum in Richmond, CA, as well as in a book of Rosie Stories. While in Seattle, she met her husband, Robert, and they were married 4-4-1944 and celebrated 44 years together before his passing in 1988. In addition to working for General Electric and Duofold, Marilynn was a community volunteer. She was 70+ year member of the Crowley Barnum American Legion Auxiliary, a founding member of the Alexander Hose Company Auxiliary, docent at the Utica Zoo and spent 2 decades delighting the children of the Mohawk Valley as Mrs. Claus. She received her high school diploma from Central Valley Academy at 92 years old in June of 2016 and was a member of the Mohawk Reformed Church for more than 70 years. She was the Grand Marshall of both the Mohawk Memorial Day Parade and the DooDah Parade. Jean loved long walks, riding her bicycle, animals, swimming and, above all, dancing.
She is survived by her children, Donna White-Davis, Martin White and Sandra Doring (Matthew); son-in-law, Jacek Misiaszek; grandchildren, David Paul, Scott Paul (Brigid), Stephen Davis (Joanna), Christopher Davis, Jaclyn McDowell (Cory), Brian Doring (Brittany), Patrick Doring, Terra Worden (Don) and Nancy Ratcliffe; her great-grandchildren, Isaac, Kathryn, Claire, Cole, Ella, Rose, Winslet, Donny, Scarlett, Charlotte and Alyson; also sisters-in-law, Marie Ray and JoAnn White, and brother-in-law, Bud Rathbun. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; her beloved daughter, Barbara Misiaszek; her sister, Donna; and her brother, Bernie. She leaves many nieces and nephews that she loved dearly in the Mohawk Valley and in Minnesota; also her wonderful neighbors, Nancy Kaples, Kevin Wren and Peggy Olsen; and her "adopted" daughter, Vivian Herkel.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 31, 2018, at 11:00 AM from the Whiter-Hendrix Funeral Home, Inc., 100 Otsego St., Ilion, with Pastor Brian Engel officiating. Interment will follow at the Mohawk Cemetery. Friends may call Monday from 4-8 PM at the funeral home.
Thank you to the staff at MVHCC for the care and love shown Mom. A special thank you to Mom's roommate, Mary Dobrzenski, for her kindness and support of Mom and our family.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her memory to the Mohawk Reformed Church, 20 S. Otsego St., Mohawk, NY 13407.
To leave an online condolence and light a candle, please go to www.whiter-hendrix.com.