Paul White was born November 12, 1946, in Longview, Texas, to Arthur J. White and
Rosie D. Merrills. He developed a passion for music while singing in the choir at
Growing Valley Church. In 1965, during the era of school segregation, Paul graduated
from Mary C. Womack High School and was shortly thereafter drafted into the United
States Army.
Paul served a one-year tour with the 25th Infantry Division in Vietnam as a door gunner.
He was stationed at Fort Huachuca in Arizona and was honorably discharged in 1968.
Paul later moved to Kansas where he served for 10 years in the Kansas Army National
Guard. While there, he met and married the love of his life, Constance, with whom he
shared 48 years of marriage. From their union came four beautiful children: Kendrea,
Cendrea, Paul Jr., and Tenishea.
Paul was a man of many skills. Throughout his career, he worked at Beech Aircraft,
Boeing, Ralston Purina, Sears, and served as a bus driver in the 1970s. After 25 years
of dedicated service, Paul retired from Westar Energy in 2001, where he worked as a
Journeyman Mechanic.
Paul always had a love for the outdoors and was a very talented craftsman. After
building a greenhouse in his backyard, his excellent networking ability, charisma, and
entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of P & P Seed Company in 1986. As the
business grew, P & P Seed Co. became a staple nursery and garden center in Wichita's
northeast community. Paul later expanded the business to include live bait and fish,
fishing supplies, power equipment, groceries, and a pizza and fish fry restaurant, at
which point it became known as P & P Seed and Bait Company. It was truly Paul's
honor to serve his community for 36 years before retiring in 2022.
Paul loved gardening, fishing, and educating others on all things outdoors. His
knowledge and insight opened many opportunities, including hosting an outdoor radio
show on Wichita's 107.9 JAMZ for three years before the station was sold. He also was
the host of The Paul White Show and Wichita Outdoors Show with Paul White, which
aired on KGPT Channel 49.
Paul served as the Northeast Wichita Police Department Santa, as well as the
community Santa, for 10 years. He was a member of the Wichita Garden Show Board
of Directors for 17 years and held several leadership roles in his community, including
serving as President of KG&E/Westar Energy's Garden Club for 25 years. Paul had
been a member of St. Mark United Methodist Church for nearly 55 years, serving in
almost every capacity except pastor. He was proud to be one of the original members of
the Troubadours for Christ choir since 1971 and also sang with God's Boys Praise
Team, the Wichita River Festival Community Choir, and the St. Mark Praise Team.
Paul received numerous awards and recognition over the years, including:

 Wichita Gospel Music Hall of Fame, 2024
 DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers and KSN Veterans Salute Award, 2023
 City of Wichita Certificate of Recognition for his 35 years as a successful Black
business owner of P & P Seed and Bait Co., 2021
 Kansas Honor Flight #71 Veteran, May 2019
 Wichita Branch NAACP Legacy Awardee, 2011
 Urban News Best contest winner: Best Black Wichita Business, Best Community
Person (2005); Best Black Business, Best Community Person, Best Place to Find Fried
Catfish (2006); Best Place to Find Urban News (2008); Best Place to Eat (2009); Urban
News Best Black Business (2011)
 The Community Voice Best Business Northeast Wichita Award, 2005-2006
 "The Golden Eagle" Minority Business Image Award presented by Sigma Gamma Rho
Sorority, Inc., 2003
 KAKE-TV 10 People on Our Side Award, 2002
 Wichita Police Certificate of Appreciation for Community Santa, 2002

Paul was preceded in death by his parents Arthur J. White and Rosie D. Ashton;
beloved Grandmother Johnnie D. Jackson; Uncle Johnny Merrills; Aunt Evia Mae
Morrison; and siblings James Smith, Jr., Glynda Faye Garrett, Thomas Charles Gordon,
Gerald Wayne Merrills, and Sybil Gordon Castro.
He leaves to cherish his memories, his loving wife Constance; children Kendrea,
Cendrea, Paul Jr., and Tenishea; son-in-law Alex Goltz; brothers Clarence White,
Greggory Merrills, Edwin White, and Arthur White, Jr.; sisters Dianne Dysart and
Jacquelyn White; eight grandchildren, several great-grandchildren; and a host of loving
nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Paul White has been blessed with many talents and much favor and was lifelong
warrior for the Lord.