John Ernest Henry

John Ernest Henry, 89, of Buena Park, California was called home to heaven on 17 Feb 2025. He was born 10 Jul 1935 in Dodge City, Kansas. First born of three children to John Amon & Virginia (Overman) Henry. His family moved to Grandview, Missouri where he spent most of his boyhood years. One memory he shared was as a 4-year-old having chicken pox and being stuck in bed, his great-grandmother Hattie (Vansickle) Henry (1879-1940) would tell him stories of his great-grandfather John Wesley Henry's (1852-1929) adventures as a Circuit Preacher. Another memory shared as a 6-year-old listening to the radio with his parents and grandmother as President Roosevelt gave his first speech following the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. He attended Grandview Baptist Church and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1944, at the age of 9.

Later the family moved to Lynwood, California where he attended middle school and was part of the second graduating class at Lynwood High School.

His military service, during the Korean War, began shortly after high school in 1953, starting in Fort Ord, California; then on to Fort Benning, Georgia; and finishing his service in Fort Sil, Oklahoma; where his math and accounting skills were put to good use, his highest rank was Corporal. His father, John Amon Henry (1911-1972) served in WW II in Okinawa, Japan.

His college days, at Santa Ana College, were filled with developing those accounting skills used in the military. It would also be in the college library where he would meet his bride-to-be, Elizabeth (Betty) Robinson. Married on 3 May 1958, they would settle in Garden Grove, California.

He and Betty helped start Newhope Baptist Church in Santa Ana, where he served as Deacon, Treasurer, and Music Director. Always busy in church, he & Betty found their final church home at Bethel Baptist in Santa Ana. He served as Deacon, Treasurer, Choir member and Pianist. He took great joy in being an active church member, studying his Bible and serving the Lord.

He was initially employed as an accountant with Borg Warner, working on a project that would improve the black boxes installed in the plane's cockpit. He then moved on to Leir Ziegler, remaining there for 40 years, continuing his accounting skills in the aviation field, before retiring with Curtis Wright.

Proceeding him are his father, John Amon Henry (1911-1972); his mother, Ethel Virginia Overman (1913-1993); his brother, Richard Lee Henry (1938-2021); and his wife of 46 years, Elizabeth Ann Robinson (1937-2004)

Surviving sibling is his sister, Nancy Kay Henry: born 1948, currently residing in Idaho.

John & Betty are survived by five children:

John Charles (Patricia Jackson) residing in Vancouver, WA; Sharon Ann (Norm Wallace) residing in Buena Park, CA; Daniel Paul (Jennifer Brown) residing in Norco, CA; Steven Philip (Stacy Escoboza) residing in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA; and Nathan Andrew (Susan Dandos) residing in Prescott, AZ.

Survived by thirteen Grandchildren:

James & Jacob Henry; Joshua (Ruth Ashton), Timothy (Shaunean Phillips), Benjamin, & Simeon Wallace; Daniel (Heidi Schroeder) & Matthew Henry; Abigail, Joshua & Lydia Henry; Zackary & Alexis Henry.

Survived by four Great-Grandchildren: Hailey Ruth (Child of Daniel & Heidi Henry); Calvin Dale, Lucy Jennifer, & Penelope Elizabeth (Children of Josh & Ruth Wallace)

Viewing and Funeral Services to be held Saturday, March 15th, 2025 starting at 11:00 am.

Location: Bethel Baptist Church, 901 S. Euclid Street, Santa Ana, California: In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Bethel Baptist Church in his memory.

A private cremation service will follow a couple of days later.