Marcia L. (Medendorp) White

Marcia Leigh White (née Medendorp) passed away peacefully in her sleep in Grand Rapids, MI on Sunday, November 20, 2022. 

A native of Kentwood, Michigan, Marcia’s intellect and wisdom were visible from an early age. She was the salutatorian of her class at Kentwood High School and became the first in her family to attend college. Her academic accomplishments continued at Western Michigan University, where she graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor's degree in English Literature.

Marcia met Jonathan White, her husband-to-be, at college, and the two would be married for nearly fifty years: their golden anniversary would have been in February. Jonathan always said that Marcia was the smartest person he had met.

Creativity was essential to the way Marcia approached life. From sewing elaborate halloween costumes for her children, to writing and designing ornate greeting cards, to sculpting beautiful clay jewelry, Marcia approached crafting and decoration with curiosity and skill, and instilled this value in her children.

Marcia’s mind also impacted a number of businesses over the years, including Litchfield State Bank, the Jackson Citizen Patriot Newspaper, The Composing Room, and Christ Community Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan. 

However, the true work of her life was her family. Marcia devoted a tremendous amount of love, creativity, and wit to all of her families: her parents, sisters, husband, children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Marcia was preceded in death by parents Ken and Helen Medendorp of Grand Rapids, MI. Marcia is survived by her husband Jonathan White of Grand Rapids, MI; sisters Jan (Steve) Huisman of Grand Rapids, MI and Julie (Don) Pease of Washburn TN; children Katie (Erik) Rios of Woodstock, GA and Charlie (Shannon) White of Grand Rapids, MI; and grandchildren Tucker, Zephyr (Gabriel), Trinley, and Sam.

A memorial service will be held 11am at Mayflower Congregational Church on December 1st.  The family will greet friends after the service.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Jonathan and Marcia White Endowed Meijer Honors College Scholarship at Grand Valley State University.

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