Robert White, Former General Overseer, Passes Away
Former Church of God General Overseer Dr. Robert White passed away on Thursday, April 2, 2026, in Weatherford, Texas.
White served the Church of God in numerous leadership capacities, most notably as the denomination’s top office of general overseer from 1994-1996. He was 91.
Dr. Robert White
In lifelong service and a ministry to the Church of God that began with the acceptance of his first pastorate in 1954, Robert White was a pastor, planted thirteen churches, served as youth director of Louisiana and Texas; as administrative bishop of Montana/Wyoming, Arizona, West Virginia, and Alabama; and national and international evangelist. He was appointed the first director of the Department of General Education in 1974, what is today the Division of Education. In 1976, Dr. White was appointed Director of Church of God World Missions, serving four years. In 1982, he was elected by his ministerial peers as a member of the Executive Committee, serving four years as Second Assistant General Overseer, until accepting the appointment of president of the Church of God Theological Seminary (now Pentecostal Theological Seminary) in 1986. Two years later, he would again be elected to serve in World Missions, this time as assistant director until 1990 when he was elected back on the Executive Committee as First Assistant General Overseer. In 1994 he was elected general overseer serving until 1996.
Other aspects of his service and leadership include organizing the first Church of God Women’s conference; LifeBuilders men’s discipleship initiative; Project 2000; and numerous boards and committees. He was elected to the denomination’s Executive Council for sixteen years and represented the Church of God in more than one hundred countries, ministering in more than seventy. Dr. White made the denomination’s first contact with underground churches in China (1979) and Russia (1989), and he organized the first Church of God in Kenya.
In service outside the Church of God, Dr. White served on the Board of Administration for the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE), serving on the Commission on Higher Education and World Relief Commission. White authored or edited nine books.
Dr. White was joined in life and ministry by his first wife, Kathryn (Shires) White, who he met at the 1956 Church of God General Assembly in Memphis, Tennessee. They married five weeks later and served faithfully as a ministry team until Kathryn’s death more than 53 years later. Kathryn White was a pastor’s wife, Ladies’ Ministries President, and International Ladies’ Ministries president. She led fundraising efforts to build a Bible seminary in the Dominican Republic and a medical clinic in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. She and Dr. White established the Kathryn Shires White International Scholarship at the Pentecostal Theological Seminary and were honored by PTS with induction into the prestigious Hall of Prophets in 2021.
Although devastated by the loss of his beloved Kathryn, Dr. White was blessed to marry Adelia Shepard, who joined him in life and ministry in 2011.
Dr. White was born on December 26, 1934, in Richton, Mississippi. After graduation from his school in Richton at age 16, he attended Lee College (University) and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana, a master’s degree from Arizona State University, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Hamma School of Theology at Wittenberg University.
“Dr. White was one of our more diversified leaders during his ministry,” stated Church of God General Overseer Dr. Gary Lewis. “His legacy of service and ministry in the Church of God is exemplary and one that demonstrates commitment and courage toward a life dedicated to the cause of Christ.”
Dr. White is survived by his wife, Adelia Shepherd White; son Vardaman (Worawan) White of Destin, Florida; daughter Alisa White (Elliott Herzlich) of Huntsville, Texas; and numerous grandchildren. In addition to Kathryn, he was predeceased by his parents, Vardaman and Minnie White and grandson Christopher Charles White.
Funeral services will be conducted on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, with a visitation at 9:00 am, followed by a Celebration of Life and Ministry at 10:00 am. Both will be conducted at the Church of God Campground in Weatherford, Texas. Interment will follow at Bluebonnet Hills in Colleyville, Texas.
