Val Henson

VAL A. HENSON, 86, died at 6:25 a.m. May 15, 2006, at Wapakoneta Manor Nursing Home. He was born July 18, 1919, in New Liberty, Illinois, to David and Pearl Dench Henson, who preceded him in death. On December 30, 1946, he married Elizabeth Adams, who died May 13, 2003. Mr. Henson had been a self-employed carpenter. He was a member of St. John Catholic Church, Lima, where he had been a member of its Holy Name Society and was a lay distributor and usher. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1275 and the Disabled American Veterans. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving from April 18, 1941, to October 4, 1945. He was an avid fisherman and camper. He was dedicated to St. John Catholic Church and his family. Survivors include four sons, Keith Henson of Lima, Ohio, David (Randee) Henson of Lakeview, Ohio, Val (Diane) Henson of Louisville, Kentucky, and Carmen (Jody) Henson of Lima, Ohio; five daughters, Karen (Michael) Corcoran of Marion, Ohio, Valerie Johnson and Joyce Stombaugh, both of Lima, Ohio, Carla (William) Hill of Cloverdale, Ohio and Beth (Michael) Dible of Sunbury, Ohio; a brother, Delbert (Bernadine) Henson of Munster, Indiana; 21 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Suzanne Adams and Angeline Adams, both of Lima, Ohio. He was preceded in death by a son, John Michael Henson. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. John Catholic Church, Lima. The Rev. William J. Rose will officiate. Burial will be in Gethsemani Cemetery, with military rites by VFW Post 1275. Friends may call from 2 to 8 p.m. today at Chamberlain-Huckeriede Funeral Home, where a VFW service will be held at 7:30 p.m. and a parish wake service at 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. John Catholic Church; St. Rita's Hospice, 770 W. North St., Lima, OH 45801; or Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 133 Evergreen Road, Suite 101, Louisville, KY 40243. Condolences may be expressed at www.chamberlainhuckeriede.com.