Richard Henry

Richard Henry -- Clio, Mich. Richard L. Henry, 80, a native of Buckingham, who had lived in Clio, Mich., for many years, died Friday (May 26, 2006) at a hospital in Flint, Mich., after an illness of several months. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. Friday until the 11 a.m. funeral services at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home, west Kankakee. Interment will be in Kankakee Memorial Gardens. Richard was born July 30, 1925, in Kankakee, the son of Laurimer L. and Jeanette (Wagner) Henry, both originally from Bonfield. He grew up in Buckingham and attended Reddick High School, graduating in 1942. He worked briefly at the old Hotel Kankakee, then entered DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., graduating in 1948 after interruption for wartime Navy service. Richard's World War II service was mostly as a signalman in the Navy Armed Guard on merchant ships carrying supplies to Britain and other allies. He made several hazardous North Atlantic crossings, including one voyage to Murmansk in the Soviet Union. Although his convoys were attacked several times by German submarines, his own ship was never hit. When the war ended in Europe, he was sent to the Pacific, in anticipation of service on a landing craft in the invasion of the Japanese homeland, but the atomic bomb ended the war before that became necessary. During the Korean conflict, he was recalled to Navy Reserve duty and served about a year on an aircraft carrier in the Atlantic. Beginning in 1948, he was employed by the Continental insurance company, first in the Chicago office and later as a field representative in Michigan. In the 1960s he became affiliated with the Blackmore-Rowe insurance firm in the Flint area and managed its office in Clio until his retirement. In his retirement years, Richard especially enjoyed travel, golf and researching family history and genealogy. He had a gift for friendship and remained ever loyal to the companions of his youth. He especially enjoyed Reddick High reunions and was looking forward to another later this year. His wife, the former Norma Antonucci of Kankakee, a talented artist and china painter, died in 2004. They had no children. Surviving relatives include a brother, Laurin L. Henry and his wife Jane of Charlottesville, Va.; nieces, Stephanie J. Henry of Boston and Robin H. Greenwood of Charlottesville. Other family members are sister-in-law, Leda Maita and her husband Anthony, and nephews, Anthony and Paul Maita, all from the Chicago area.

Richard Henry

July 30, 1925 - May 26, 2006