CHARLES M. HENRY JR., 88, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. Born March 24, 1924, in Fort Wayne, he was the son of Charles and Irene (Degitz) Henry. He attended Precious Blood Grade School and Central Catholic High School. He served with the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 to 1946 and participated in the invasions of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian in the South Pacific. Returning after the war, he joined his father who owned Henry Electric Co. On his father's death in 1956, he acquired the firm and retired in 1982. He then joined Summit international, a Middle East Trading Co. He retired from there in 1986. He was a charter member of the Fort Wayne Sertoma Club and served as President and Governor. He was President of the Boards for Queen of Angles Catholic Church, Northeast Division of the National Electrical Contractors Association, Sub Contractors Association, Illuminating Engineer Society, 100 Percent Club, Catholic Cemetery, and Serra Club. He served on the Boards with St. Joseph College, Saint Anne Home, Associated Building Contractors, Community Harvest Food Bank, Building & Minimum Housing, Economic Development and the Airport Authority. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, Elks Lodge, Marine Corps League, Marine Corps 2nd Division, Commander of the V.F.W. Post 9500 and charter member of Sons of Sod and Fort Wayne Air Museum. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Ann (Beekman); children, Charles (Patti) III and Peter (Jean), both of Fort Wayne, Steven (Jewel) of Florida, Christine M. Saul of Virginia and Nicholas (Jennifer) of Washington; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother, Morton; and sister, Carol Venderley. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jerome and Eugene. Mass of Christian Burial is 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 2213 Brooklyn Ave., with calling one hour prior. Fr. Timothy Wrozek presiding. Calling also from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, at D.O. McComb & Sons Covington Knolls Funeral Home, 8325 Covington Road. Burial in Catholic Cemetery. Memorials to Fort Wayne Sertoma Club Scholarship Fund or Gibault, Inc. To sign the online guestbook, please visit www.mccombandsons.com


Published in Fort Wayne Newspapers on November 3, 2012