William Norman Henry, 83, of Joplin, MO, formerly of Camden, Arkansas passed from this life March 12, 2016. He was born in Bearden, Arkansas, to David Norman Henry and Marjorie Elizabeth Bass Henry on June 7, 1932, his mother's 19th birthday. He was raised in the First United Methodist Church of Bearden and played football for and graduated from Bearden High School in 1951, always a Bearden Bear. He always enjoyed the opportunity to return to Bearden with his family to attend football games and see old friends. He is preceded in death by his only sister, Mary Elizabeth Henry McVoy of Memphis, Tennessee, and his parents.
Bill was invited by special invitation to join the U.S. Army in 1952, and he made this his career. Prior to retirement in 1978, he was a Chief Warrant Officer 3 on a Hawk Missile site. He served proudly for more than 29 years. His military career took him and his family to many locations including Fort Bliss, Texas, Taiwan, Okinawa and Germany. While stationed in Taiwan, he was an advisor to the Taiwan military in operating the Hawk Missile System.
After retiring from the military, he worked for Ohmeda Medical Engineering as their facility manager from 1980 to 1991 in El Paso, Texas and Norcross, Georgia. Bill and Shirley returned to Arkansas to enjoy retired life but, instead, he went to work for Hi Tech as their safety manager in East Camden, Arkansas.
Bill and Shirley enjoyed traveling with RV friends and viewing many historical sites. He so cherished football and his grandson, Jonathan Kane, that he and Shirley relocated to Carl Junction for the 2004-05 football season to cheer on the Bulldogs. He traveled to Olathe, Kansas to watch and cheer on his grandson, Zachary Eberhardt, while he played football. Although it wasn't football, he enjoyed attending track meets of granddaughter Kristal Eberhardt, Olathe Youth Symphony of granddaughter Amanda Eberhardt, and fishing with grandson Jeremy McBee and granddaughter Alicia Kane.
Bill's greatest joy was his family, evidenced by his insistence on attending graduation ceremonies for all six of his grandchildren. He loved the chatter of his girls and the chaos of his grandchildren. He enjoyed the company of his many friends and his Camden First United Methodist Church family. He enjoyed working in the kitchen of his church and driving the VA van to Little Rock, Arkansas transporting veterans to their medical appointments. Singing in the men's choir and attending Al Rose's Sunday school class also brought him much joy.
He is survived by his bride of 63 years, Shirley Bryant Henry of the home and two daughters, Kathy Eberhardt (Richard) of Olathe, Kansas and Rebecca Kane (Michael) of Joplin, six grandchildren; Jeremy McBee (Amanda) of Fort Collins, Colorado; Alicia Kane of Springfield, Missouri; Amanda Eberhardt Ziebell (Greg) of Shawnee, Kansas; Jonathan Kane (Abby) of Liberty, Missouri; Kristal Eberhardt of Kansas City, Missouri; Zachary Eberhardt of El Reno, Oklahoma and four great-grandchildren; Emily McBee, Noelle McBee, Hadley Eberhardt and Alexis Ziebell. He is also survived by many cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.
He will be laid to rest in the family plot at Moss Cemetery, Bearden Arkansas at a later date.
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