Wanda L Henson

December 15, 1923 – August 14, 2010

Wanda Henson, age 86, passed away peacefully on August 14, while in comfort care at St. Vincent Hospital. Her family was with her at the end, and will forever be grateful to the staff of the hospital who gave her such loving care while she was hospitalized.

Wanda Leonne High was born at home in Lexington, Nebraska, on December 15, 1923, to Myrtle and Leon High. Her older brother, Charles High, younger siblings Douglas and Willa, and husband Robert Kenneth Henson, all predeceased her. She graduated from Lexington High School in 1940, at age 16. While she waited to enter nurses’ training, she worked at Barmore Drug Store in downtown Lexington for a year. Following graduation from Denver Presbyterian Hospital, she practiced public health nursing. She met her future husband, Bob Henson, in Psychology class at the University of Colorado in 1946 where she was finishing her Bachelor’s degree and Bob was working on a master’s in music education.

They married in Boulder, Colorado, on August 14, 1948. Wanda passed away on what would have been their 62nd wedding anniversary.

In 1951, following the birth of their first child, Gregory Kenneth, they moved to Pendleton, Oregon, where Bob taught band in the elementary and junior high schools in Pendleton for 30 years, retiring in 1981. He passed away in December 1985. Their daughter, Christine Louise, was born in 1952. Wanda was a public health nurse for Umatilla County and then a social worker with the school district psychologist until her retirement in 1984.

Wanda’s great love was playing bridge, and was a member of the same bridge group in Pendleton since 1952. Following a move to Portland in 1988, she found other bridge groups to play with, and she made many friends in her new home. She was a devoted member of Valley Community Presbyterian Church, PEO, both in Pendleton and Portland; Broadmoor Woman’s Club; and a book club group. She also volunteered in the gift shop at Good Samaritan Hospital for many years, enjoying that immensely.

She is survived by her son, Greg Henson (Sharon); daughter Christine (Rick) Henson Woodard; two grandchildren, Sarah Woodard and Sam Woodard; and many, many relatives and friends.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, September 25th, 1:00 p.m., at Valley Community Presbyterian Church, 8060 SW Brentwood, Portland 97225.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Providence St. Vincent Medical Foundation, 9205 SW Barnes Road, Suite 2111, Portland, Oregon 97225 (http://www.providencefoundations.org/psvmc); Planned Parenthood, (http://www.ppcw.org); or the Oregon Food Bank, P.O. Box 55370, Portland, OR 97238-5370 (http://www.oregonfoodbank.org).

Arrangements under the direction of Skyline Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Portland, OR.

(503) 292-6611