Honoring Marilyn J. White
Marilyn Jane (Schmidt) White was born to Oliver D. and L. Josephine Schmidt on December 27, 1944 in Mt. Lakes, NJ. When she was two the family moved to Kirkwood, MO. She enjoyed music lessons, Girl Scouting, and the many lifelong friends she made growing up and graduating from Kirkwood High School in 1962. She attended Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS where she met and married Robert White. Her graduation with a BA in Fine Arts was celebrated with a speech by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Her first employment was in Colorado Springs, CO at Ft. Carson, where she became a Director of the Army Recreation Center. She ran the coffee house, which was written up in Time Magazine. She later became chief of Army Recreation Centers at HQ Department of the Army. She also established her own consulting business, Performance Skills, Inc., and her professional name of Marilyn J. White. Husband Bob died after a long struggle with brain cancer. She authored 2 books, Moving Up (3 editions) and Women to Women, wrote articles for the Army Times, and facilitated organizational effectiveness workshops as well as workshops addressing upward mobility of women in business and in the military. Marilyn earned her Master’s degree as a Department of the Army Fellow. She also attended the Senior Level Service School (normally attended by the ranks of Major and above) at the Army War College where she was designated the Distinguished Graduate of her class, the first civilian female to earn this honor. As a civil servant at the Defense Communications Agency (DCA) she was invited to attend the Leadership and Management Development Center (LMDC) at Maxwell AFB, AL to coordinate their consultation for her commander, Lt. Gen. Hillsman – the first such project for a joint command. She spent many years in Washington, DC serving in different capacities for the US Department of Defense. There she met her husband, Michael Loman.
Employment opportunities moved them to Mesa, AZ where Marilyn became licensed as a real estate agent. She created her own firm, American Dreamcatcher Realty and served on local and state real estate boards. Marilyn enjoyed music and was a pen artist. She designed many graphics. Her favorite thing was cruising on Holland America Cruise Lines with Mike to many parts of the world, the last cruise being to Hawaii and Mexico, where she and Mike celebrated life to the max! Her health had been failing for the past 2-3 years. In January of this year she began a rapid decline and passed away quietly in her sleep on February 10, 2018.
She was pre-deceased by her parents in 2001 and 2006. She is survived by her beloved husband of 24 years, Michael Loman, her older sister, Jo Ellen Lied (Robert), nephew Mark Lied (Lisa) of Arvada, CO, niece Terri Griffiths of Winfield. KS, five great nieces, 2 great-great nephews, and many cousins. She is also survived by stepson Sean Loman (Christine and grandson William) of Sterling, VA and stepdaughter Victoria Less (Tom) of Columbus, OH.
A memorial service is planned for Friday, March 9, 2018 at 4PM at Mt. View Funeral Home, 7900 E. Main St., Mesa, AZ. Donations may be made in Marilyn White’s name to Sunshine Acres Children’s Home, 3405 N. Higley Rd., Mesa, AZ 85215. Telephone: (408) 832-2540. All donations are tax deductible.