Charles White

Charles White (or as his friends and family lovingly called him, Mick), passed away peacefully with his family by his side on October 16, 2025. Charlie was born in San Francisco, CA. He was a graduate of St. Ignatius High School, class of 1963. In 1967, Charlie joined the San Francisco Fire Department, where he worked as a brave and respected firefighter for over thirty years. Charlie moved to Benicia in 1983, where he raised his son, never missing an important event in his life. During this time, he took up woodworking as a hobby and transformed his garage into a workshop, in which he became a master woodworker. Continuing his call to service, Charlie dedicated his life to others. He was a selfless volunteer and founding member of the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry at St. Dominic’s Church. He worked every Sunday in the Benicia State Park Native Botanic Plant Garden and was behind the scenes of so many good deeds that he never told anyone about. He would say, “If you do something good and tell people about it, it’s not good anymore.” Charlie quite literally gave the shirt off his back. He was a man of silent integrity. Sobriety was central in Charlie’s life; he was a valued member of AA for 48 years. Among his AA volunteering and sponsorships, he was the guy who would get the 3am phone calls on the AA hotline from someone who needed support and guidance at that very moment. Charlie possessed a great love of the outdoors. You could always count on seeing him riding his bike around town, or kayaking in the Benicia Bay. His kayak never left the back of his truck unless it was being dragged into some body of water that he couldn’t pass by. Charlie is survived by his beloved wife Jane; loving son Jake (Shannon), and step-daughters Alice and Heather. He was a proud grandfather to Jessica, Julia, Hunter, Jared, and Sierra and his eight beautiful great-grandchildren; his sister Lannie (Jim) and an abundance of nieces and nephews. The White family also wants to thank his devoted and loyal friends Jerry, Jim, Mary, and Buzz, who always came by the house to spend time with him. You were a bright and comforting light in his life. A gathering of friends and family to celebrate Charlie’s life will be held on Sunday, November 2nd at the Benicia Yacht Club, 400 East 2nd Street, Benicia. Stop by for refreshments and shared memories any time from 2pm to 5pm. To honor Charlie please consider a gift to the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation. This is the only organization the family will suggest for donations.

Charles White

September 30, 1945 - October 16, 2025