Memorials › William Oscar “Bill” Henry

William Oscar “Bill” Henry

21 Jun 1933 – 9 Feb 2014

Birth	21 Jun 1933
Death	9 Feb 2014
Cemetery	Laurel Oaks Memorial Park Mesquite , Dallas County , Texas , USA
Added by	Judy Evans on 28 Dec 2024
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/220505950

Bio

William O. Bill Henry Obituary William O. "Bill" Henry was Born June 21, 1933 at 2206 Pennsylvania Avenue in South Dallas, he departed this life at home in DeSoto surrounded by his family, after a courageous battle against cancer, on February 9, 2014. He was preceded in death by his mentor and maternal grandfather, Arthur C. Schwarz, Sr., who always referred to Bill as "The Bull of The Woods" and his grandmother, Viola Ellena Henenberg Schwarz; his paternal grandfather, James Cary Henry and his grandmother, Jenny Lynn Henry; parents, James Clinton Henry Sr. and Gladys Mable Henry; his sister, Doris D. Nevill and his brother, John Henry. He is survived by his wife, Janie Marie Henry; his son, Rodney William Henry and his wife, Marylynne Henry; his daughters, Janice Dianne Ramos and Deborah Ann Bowen; and step-daughters, Gayla Marie Nance, Gena Young Alley and Heather Young Rozear; his brothers, James Clinton Henry Jr., Arthur Edward Henry and Tommy Henry; his sisters, Marie Henry Davidson and Trudy Henry Vaughan; 12 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild and countless family and friends. Bill was a loving husband, father and great-grandfather and was known as PaPa by his grandchildren. Pallbearers are Kevin Bowen, Ryan Henry, Matthew Ramos, Scott Alley, John Henry Jr., Troy Henry, Terry Henry and Michael Gaubert. He Joined the United States Marine Corps during the Korean war on February 2, 1953 when he had completed his tour in Korea on January 31, 1955 he was assigned to The 3rd Marines "D" Company 1st Infantry Battalion, Marine Corps Test Unit #1 to participate with 2, 600 Marines in the "CLASIFIED TOP SECRET OPERATION TEAPOT" The history of this operation "THE 3RD MARINE CORPS PROVISIONAL ATOMIC EXERCISE BRIGADE" history was declassified on June 2, 1987 I quote from the record "On March 22, 1955 at 05:02am Shot BEE the sixth Teapot event an 8-Kiloton shot was fired from a 500-foot steel tower, 600 Marines crouched in trenches 3, 500 yards from ground zero" Bill was in that trench, his helmet, goggles and gas mask were blown off. This started Bills fight with cancer, surviving over 100 operations, when anyone would remark how unfair that was his answer was "Honor, courage and commitment that's what Marines do for their country". Bill was the Chairman of the Board of the Schwarz Company Inc., founded by his Grandfather in 1908. He was the first law officer of DeSoto, his hometown since 1958, where he served as a city councilman, founding member of the lions club and the Chamber of Commerce. He served as a director of Telecom Corporation listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Exchange Savings, Texas Small Business Investment Corporation, Independent American Construction and the Founding Chairman of Henry Building Inc. He was appointed as a Dallas County advisory committee Member and as member of the Dallas County Child Welfare Board. When he discovered that there were children sleeping on the floor because of overcrowding in the shelter and the County did not have the money to build additional Housing. Bill built and paid for the building with his own money and gifts from friends and he bought the beds so the kids did not have to sleep on the floor. These kids were not juvenile delinquents these were children from broken and abusive homes, Bill Founded a group "Christmas for the Kids" and raised the funds for many years so that every kid would have the money at Christmas to buy gifts for themselves and others. He also found volunteers who would take the kids out for the day, buy them clothes and treat them to a great lunch and to take them shopping for their gifts. This program was in existence for many years until the County stopped the practice out of fear of liability. Bill had a passion for feeding people who were in need. He fed people up until the day he died. He had the knack to twist others arms and to reach into their pocket books. Bill was an avid race horse owner who also for years took in injured race horses that were going to be destroyed and let them live out their lives on his ranch. Bill was a champion of building low cost housing for the disadvantaged, the mentally and physically handicapped and veterans. For over the last forty years he has built and remodeled thousands of units of low cost housing. He completed his last Project "Patriot Ridge" in August of last year dedicating 20% of the units at 20% reduced rents for Veterans. Bill had a strong personality and he lived by "Bills Law "which was "we are going to do it MY WAY". In the spirit of that tradition Bill requested no flowers, but he said that he would appreciate donations in his honor to the wounded warriors Project. www.woundedwarriorproject.org/Donate Born in Dallas, TX on Jun. 21, 1933 Departed on Feb. 9, 2014 and resided in Desoto, TX. Visitation: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Funeral Service: Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014 10:00 am Cemetery: Laurel Oaks Memorial Park Arrangements with Laurel Oaks Funeral Home, Mesquite, texas.

Inscription

A US MARINE RESTS HERE BILL & JANIE I THEE WED JUNE 2, 1993

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