Marlene Violet White

Marlene Violet (Thompson) White, 79, of Hastings, passed away on Saturday, October 24, 2015, at Thornapple Manor with her loving family by her side.

She was born to the late Peter and Myrtle (Berger) Thompson on September 20, 1936, in Chicago, where she grew up. She lived with her family in a bungalow in the Cottage Grove Heights neighborhood.

After she graduated from Fenger High School in 1954, Marlene worked as a secretary at Continental Bank in downtown Chicago until she married the late Marvin J. White Jr. on May 26, 1956, and moved with him to Indianapolis. Together they had five children, and she stayed at home to raise them. Before moving to Hastings in 1970 she also lived with her family in Garden City, Michigan, and Addison, Illinois.

A woman of unwavering faith in God, Marlene loved to read her Bible and pray. She was a former member of Grace Lutheran Church, and until her health began to fail, she attended services at Thornapple Valley Church.

Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the greatest joys of her life.

Babies, children, and elderly adults always held a special place in Marlene's heart. She devoted most of her life to caring for her children and grandchildren; other children and elders in her community; and her elderly mother, aunts, and uncle.

In her younger and healthier years Marlene loved to swim, fish, play the piano, sing, and play cards (especially with her grandchildren).

She will be greatly missed by her beloved sister and lifelong best friend, Marilyn Preston and her husband, Glen, of Midlothian, Illinois; a brother, Marty Thompson and his wife, Sandra, of Frankfort, Illinois; a sister-in-law, Nancy Thompson, of Naperville, Illinois; three daughters, Sheryll Trost and her husband, Joe, of Newburgh, Indiana; Marilyn Beckwith and her husband, Marty, of Hastings; and Cindy Stout and her husband, Sam, of Hastings; six granddaughters, Danielle Fenstemaker and her husband, Ken; Kailie Dipp and her husband, Jason; Kelsey Trost and her fiancé, Jameson Burton; Jenna Trost; Leah Trost; and Christa Wright; three grandsons, Steven Stout; Jonathan Wright and his wife, LaTeasha; and Corey Stout; four great-grandchildren, Aroara, Riddick, and Onyx Fenstemaker; and Ava Dipp; and her nieces and nephews. She is also survived by a daughter, Laurie Lanciaux and her husband, Fran; a son, Mike White and his wife, Kathie, of Hastings; four grandsons, Ryan, Nick, and Joel Lanciaux; and Dalten White; and a granddaughter, Mallory White.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a brother, Don Thompson; and a nephew, Greg Thompson.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Thornapple Manor for the excellent and loving care given to Marlene during the last eight months of her life.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Marlene to the Barry County Commission on Aging.


Visitation will be held Wednesday, October 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m at Girrbach Funeral Home. A funeral service will immediately follow the visitation. Inurnment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Hastings.