He was born on July 18, 1950 in Paris, TX to William Augusta White Jr. & Doris Marie Heiser and was raised in Hugo before moving to Stillwater in his junior year. He graduated from Stillwater High School in 1967 and attended Oklahoma State University. There he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity and he graduated with both a Bachelors and Masters in Advertising. After college he began working for OPUBCO, where he met the love of his life, Kimberly Harmon. They were married on February 1st, 1984 in Norman, OK and moved to Edmond, OK thereafter. They had three daughters; Taylor Rae Nickell, Tanner Marie Hull and Trace Ann White.
John worked at OPUBCO for 32 years, finishing his tenure as the Vice President of Retail & National Advertising for The Oklahoman. He also served as the Executive Director for the Association of Alternate Postal Systems from 1995 to present. Following his departure from OPUBCO, he started his own advertising company, Advertising, Analysis & Professional Services (AAPS). He handled ads for the Zoo Amphitheater & Steve’s Wholesale Tools & created television ads & marketing campaigns for Air Comfort Solutions and Blue Haven Pools.
He was an avid writer and creator, and one of his true joys was creating witty content for commercials/print. John was a published author and in 2017 completed his first novel, One Fell Swoop, which topped the Oklahoma Bestsellers List. He also has hundreds of business and travel articles to his credit.
His favorite things in life were spending time with his wife & children, hiking, traveling, bleeding orange, writing, and good music. John never met a stranger. His personality lit up the room and his zest for life was infectious to everyone. His last moments were spent at his favorite place (his lake house patio), sipping a margarita and watching the sunset with his true love, Kim. His passing, due to sudden cardiac arrest, was immediate and he felt no pain.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Shirley Harmon; and his uncle and aunt, Walter & Mary White. John is survived by his beloved wife, Kimberly White; his three daughters and two sons-in-law, Ryan & Taylor Nickell, Teak & Tanner Hull, and Trace White; his brother and sister-in-law, Chip & Diane White; his father-in-law, Earl Dee Harmon; and his brother-in-law & sister-in-law, Rick & Sherry Mosley.
