John White Obituary
Obituary published on Legacy.com by Allen Funeral Home and Crematory on Mar. 20, 2026.
John Philip White Jr. M.D., 91, of Bloomington, passed away on March 16, 2026.
He was born on March 11, 1935 in Chicago to John Philip White Sr. and Naomi Spindler White. He was adept in the oral tradition of passing along the genealogical facts that the horrific Chicago Iroquois Theatre fire of 1903 resulted in the deaths of his grandfather Spindler's first wife and son (Lowell, Indiana), leading to the fortuitous marriage of Mr. Spindler to grandmother Spindler, and that a Spindler family ancestor fought as a Minuteman in the American Revolution. Immediately after birth the family moved to Valparaiso, Indiana and then to Kendallville, Indiana where he starred for the Kendallville High School Comets basketball, baseball, and track teams, leading to a life-long love of sports. He was especially fond of the memory of attending with his father the 1954 state high school basketball championship game where Milan upset heavily favored Muncie Central at Butler Fieldhouse.
He graduated from Indiana University with a degree in anatomy and began attending the IU School of Medicine in Bloomington and then in Indianapolis. After graduation he completed his residency at Saint Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis with a specialty in otorhinolaryngological surgery (ear nose and throat). In 1965 he went on to join the otorhinolaryngological practice of Drs. Dillon Geiger and William Sibbitt in Bloomington where he spent his entire career in medicine. He and first wife Ann were delighted to have the opportunity to raise their young family in the small Big Ten town in which they enjoyed attending college. This opportunity led to a very long, full life filled with many colleagues, patients, and friends. At the time of his retirement in 2015 he was the oldest practicing physician in the state. He was a proud Hoosier all the way through.
He married Barbara Weber on October 8, 2004 in Bloomington. He is survived by Barbara, and three children, Bradford White (spouse Laura) of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mark White (spouse Deanna) of Bloomington, and Heather Rowlett of Corydon, Indiana, extended family, Krista Powell (spouse Nick) of Colorado and Jessica Weber (spouse Kevin Bentz) of California, brother Steve White (spouse Kathy) of Angola, Indiana, grandchildren, Logan, Carter, Chloe, Brooke, Sophie, Megan, Art, Claire, Ella , Greta, and Charlie, great grandchildren, Essmae and Waylon Stewart, and nephew, Hoyt "David" (spouse Laura) of California.
He was preceded in death by wife, Ann Bradford White who passed away on December 23, 1999, and by sister Susan Lockwood of Indianapolis (brother-in-law Jim surviving).
He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve and was a long-time member of the Bloomington Country Club and Indiana University supporter through various alumni associations and a season ticket holder for football and basketball. Drs. Geiger and Sibbitt attended the 1968 Rose Bowl and told him it was his turn the next time IU won the Big Ten Championship. Unfortunately, he could not attend the 2026 edition of the Rose Bowl where the Hoosiers stomped the Alabama Crimson Tide. His hobbies included golf, SCUBA diving, and spending time with his family at his vacation home in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Later in life he became an accomplished landscape painter and enjoyed painting scenes from his many travels.
Visitation for family and friends of Dr. White will be held at Allen Funeral Home on March 25, 2026, between 12:00 and 2:00 PM. Burial will follow at Clear Creek Cemetery.