Henry J Beaudoin, 95, of Middleburg, FL, passed away on October 2, 2023. He was born on his mother’s 26th birthday on Sept.6, 1928, in the city of Providence, R.I. He attended Catholic Schools including LaSalle Academy. Proficient in art, he won a scholarship to the R.I. School of Design, to attend during the summer months when he was 15. He worked Civil Service for the U.S. Navy at Quonset Point, R.I. from 1944-1945 as an Aircraft Sheetmetal Mechanic. He joined the Navy in January of 1946, served for a little less than 2 years, then went back to work for the Department of Defense once again as a Sheetmetal mechanic. In the mid-fifties, he was enlisted in the National Guard and completed 3 years. At his DOD job, he worked his way up in the ranks and led many teams traveling to various places throughout the U.S. and to foreign countries including Tulee, Greenland, the Philippines, and Da Nang, Viet Nam (3 times) with the purpose of his team repairing damaged aircraft. When Quonset Point was closed in R.I. in 1973, he moved the family to Orange Park, Fl., then to Middleburg, Fl. to work at the Naval Aviation Rework Facility (now FRCSE) at Naval Air Station Jax. He received many Letters of Commendation, awards and accolades throughout his career with the government, including being named the Federal Manager of the Year in 1981. He eventually was promoted to Branch Head, then General Foreman while at Naval Aviation Rework Facility, NAS JAX, retiring in December 1988 with a total of 42 years of service. He continued his woodworking hobby making rocking horses, rocking chairs, toy boxes, corner cabinets, etc.
Henry was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Blanche (Normandine) Beaudoin, his brother Joseph (Normand), his wife Anna aka Betty (Bouffard) Beaudoin and his sister Irene (Boehm). He and Betty were married in July of 1950 and remained married for almost 71 years until her death in April of 2021. They raised 5 children: Norman aka Teri Beaudoin, Denise Wright (Ron), Kathleen aka Kathy Church, Charlene Padgett and Richard Beaudoin. He had 3 grandchildren: Michael Machado, Dawn Candy (Machado) and Christopher Padgett (Alisa) along with 3 bonus granddaughters: Jennifer Schwarz (Thomas), Leslie Cason (Kenneth), and Stephanie Wright. He also had 10 great-grandchildren: Jonathan Oates, Skylar Poppell, Isaac, Ethan, and Brooke Padgett, Simon Candy, Logan Hartley, Thomas Schwarz III, Julie and Zeluan Cason. He is survived by his brothers William (Billy) and Robert (Bobby), his 5 children, 3 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren, and his many nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends from 6-8 PM, Tuesday, October 10, 2023 at Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, 127 Blanding Blvd, Orange Park, FL 32073. Graveside service will be 11:30 AM, Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at Jacksonville National Cemetery (Lane 3), 4083 Lannie Road, Jacksonville, FL 32218.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hollyhillfunerals.com for the Beaudoin family.
