Major General John Bailey Henry Jr., USAF (Ret)

General John B. Henry, of San Antonio, Texas and Muskegon, Michigan died on September 2, 2013 at the age of 97. He was born in Christine, Texas in 1916 the son of John Bailey and Esther Belle Henry. General Henry was predeceased by his wife of 66 years the former Maxine H. Schoeffler. He is survived by his children: Elizabeth Anne Bevelhymer (Herbert), John B. Henry, III (Janice), four grandchildren; Lowell Bevelhymer (Joanne), Stephen Bevelhymer (Beth), Megan Henry Rolf (Jeff) and John B. Henry, IV; 5 great-grandchildren, and brother Lee Henry.

After attending Southwestern University he entered aviation cadet training and in 1939 received his commission as a second lieutenant and earned his pilot wings. Beginning in 1941, General Henry served as operations officer for the 37th Fighter Group and then commander of the 28th Fighter Squadron in the Canal Zone, Panama. In 1943 he was assigned to the 339th Fighter Group as its commander at Rice Field, CA. and then Falmouth, England. He flew 94 combat missions during WWII. Over the course of his 35-year career in the U.S. Air Force, General Henry commanded bases in Dallas, TX; Topeka, KS; and Westover Field, MA. While serving as commander of the 22nd Bombardment Wing, SAC, he became proficient as a jet bomber pilot. He later served as Asst. Chief of Staff, Operations for the Pacific Air Forces; Deputy Inspector General of the Air Force at the Pentagon; Director of the Inter-American Defense College, Ft. McNair, VA; and Chief of Staff Headquarters U.S. Southern Command, Canal Zone. His military decorations include: the Legion of Merit with four oak leaf clusters, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with seven oak leaf clusters, Croix de Guerre (France) and Air Force Military Cross, 2nd Class (Venezuela).

Visitation will be on Sunday, September 8, 2013 from 5 to 9pm at Sunset Funeral Home. Funeral service on Monday, September 9, 2013 at 3pm in Sunset Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. The family wishes that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675 or Mercy Health VNS & Hospice Services, 888 Terrace St., Muskegon, MI. 49440.