Joseph Henry, Jr.

Waynesville, Joseph Carl "Joe" Henry, Jr., age 66, passed away on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. A native of Wyandotte, Michigan, he was the son of Viola Fradette Henry of Maggie Valley and the late J. Carl Henry, Sr. He was a 1961 graduate of Waynesville Township High School, received a BS Degree in Business from American Technological University in Killeen, Texas and his Masters Degree from Webster College in Kansas City, Missouri. Joe was a retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel who served as a pilot during the Vietnam Era. During his 23-year military career, he received numerous awards to include: 2 Distinguished Flying Crosses, 2 Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, 61 Air Medals, and was the current president of the 187th Assault Helicopter Company Association. Joe was later employed for 15 years by Booz, Allen and Hamilton as a consultant with postings in Cairo, Egypt and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. After his retirement in 2001, he and his wife returned to Haywood County where he was an avid bridge player, who loved to cook and entertain guests at his home. He was especially fond of all kinds of reunions with family, brothers in arms, and his classmates. Joe will be remembered for his loving sense of humor and his ability to tell stories and make everyone laugh. In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife of 43 years, Helen Kirkpatrick Henry; a son, Michael P. Henry, of Marietta, GA; a daughter, Angela F. Henry, of Hong Kong; three brothers, Dale Henry and his wife, Patty, and Alan and Bob Henry, all of Maggie Valley; sister-in-law, Sarah Sutton and her husband, Martin, of Cookeville, TN; brother-in-law, Taylor Kirkpatrick and his wife, Debbie, of Clyde; one grandson, Trace Henry; several nieces and nephews; and friends he thought of as family, Sara and Sami of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The family will host a memorial gathering to celebrate his life between the hours of 2:00 and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 24, 2009 at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Full military honors by a U.S. Army detachment will be conducted at 5:00 p.m. following the memorial gathering at the funeral home. A memorial mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. at St. Margaret's Catholic Church on Sunday, October 25. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to 187th A.H.C. Association, Inc., Attn: Jim Bennett, Treasurer, Route 1, Box 154 Williamsville, MO 63967 or Class of 1961 Reunion Fund, c/o Larry Ammons, 133 Waynewood Drive, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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