Rev. Harold Henderson

The Rev. Harold William Henderson, 83, of Missouri Veterans Home died Thursday, March 20, 2003, at Southeast Missouri Hospital.

He was born Dec. 4, 1919, at Bismarck, Mo., son of George W. and Kathryn McCoy Henderson. He and Betty Taylor were married Aug. 28, 1938, in Flat River, Mo. He died Dec. 6, 2003.

Rev. Henderson graduated from Flat River High School in 1946, and Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, in 1969.

After retiring in 1989 and moving to Cape Girardeau, he served as a visitation minister at Grace United Methodist Church. He attended Grace Church, was a member of the United Methodist Church Missouri Conference, and of Chickasaw Masonic Lodge in Blytheville, Ark.

He had pastored churches in Puxico, Moberly, New Madrid and Bowling Green, Mo., and also at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

Rev. Henderson was a lay minister in northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri from 1950 to 1960.

He served in the U.S. Army with the 27th Armored Infantry Battalion in the Ardennes from 1944 to 1947 during World War II. He was awarded three Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Bill and Beth Henderson of Concord, N.H., Dr. George and Cheryl Henderson of Fallon, Nev.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Kay and Norman Cloyes of Morton, Ill., Elizabeth and Craig Edwards of Lincoln, Neb.; 17 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, a brother, and two sisters.

Friends may call at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. today.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, with the Rev. John Rice officiating. Burial will be at 4 p.m. Sunday in IOOF Cemetery at Bismarck.

Memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church or New McKendree United Methodist Church.