Darwin Ethan White

Darwin was born in Newton, Kansas, on November 22, 1943, to Allen and Edna White. He grew up on a farm in Peabody, Kansas. As the son of an engineer/Mennonite preacher, he was highly intelligent and had a mechanical aptitude from an early age. He loved music, mostly bluegrass, and enjoyed singing with his brothers in the White Family Quartet or strumming his ukulele. Darwin earned his GED but college only lasted one semester before his rebellious streak sent him off to join the Army. Civilian life led to tool and die, jig and fixture building, and a brief business making car bumpers and pig feeders.

His intelligence and quick learning then carried him into the aerospace industry as a manufacturing engineer. He worked for some of the biggest names in the business, including Boeing, Learjet, Lockheed Martin, Grumman, and Bombardier. His focus was primarily Blackhawk helicopters, airplanes, and rockets until retiring from Sikorsky Aircraft in Troy, Alabama, just before his 80th birthday. He and his wife then promptly moved home to Tennessee.

Darwin had a gift: give him anything broken, and he’d bring it back to life.

He found great joy talking about and restoring classic cars, including his treasured ‘56 T-bird, 1960 Ford panel truck, and a 1952 Willy’s Jeep for his daughter. With a figure-it-out factor like no other, he may have used unsweet tea in lieu of antifreeze or wine in place of gas. He was trusted to find a way through any situation.

With his larger-than-life personality and a closet full of cowboy boots, western shirts, and bolos, Darwin easily drew people in. He loved telling jokes and stories while enjoying some gooseberry, mincemeat, or peach pie. His unshakeable faith, heart for his family, radiant smile, wisdom, and helpful spirit made him easy to love. It also allowed him to bless family, friends, and strangers alike. His light will shine for years to come and echo in every life he touched, a quiet reminder that faith, family, and a little bit of grit can carry a man all the way home to Jesus.

Darwin is survived by his daughter Lori Bowles, his daughter Darla Brooks (Jason), his son Bryan White (Barbara), his daughter Amy Geist (Tony), his 3 brothers, Don, Roger, and Virgil, his sister Colleen, nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Darwin is preceded in death by his wife Theresa, his granddaughter Aleya Brooks, his parents, Allen and Edna White, and his brother Ivan White.

Friends and family are invited to share stories at visitation on October 4, 2026, from 1-4 p.m. at Forest Lawn Funeral Home at 1150 Dickerson Rd, Goodlettsville, TN 37072.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations sent to the Aleya Brooks Foundation.

www.DrJasonBrooks.com/AleyaNicoleLinBrooksFoundation.com