The graveside service for Ronald Stanley Henderson, age 86, will be held Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at 1:00 pm at the Memorial Park Cemetery. Rev Christopher Hall will officiate. Arrangements are under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home.
Ron was born March 7, 1925 in Atchison, KS to Ronald James and Gayle Henderson and died March 13, 2011. He graduated from Atchison High School in 1943. Upon graduation, he joined the US Air Force and served during WWII as an Air Traffic Controller. He was stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, OH.
On July 22, 1943 he married his high-school sweetheart, Betty Margaret Phillips in Atchison, KS. They were married 67 years. In 1946, a son, Ronnie S Henderson, Jr was born in Atchison, KS. After serving in the Air Force he worked for Montgomery Ward 9 years. During that time they had a daughter, Sheila Ann born in 1952. In 1953 he began working for Sears Roebuck in Fayetteville, AR. Another daughter was born to them in 1954, Vicki Lee. He was promoted to Assistant Manager at Springfield, MO, where they lived for 6 years. He was then transferred to Muskogee, OK as Sears Manager. They lived in Muskogee for 7 years. His last promotion was to Enid, OK where they lived for the next 42 years. He retired from the downtown Sears Store after 35 years of service.
His love for horses, riding, showing, judging and breeding, started in Muskogee where he joined the Roundup Club to be involved with the local Rodeo Drill team with his daughter. His love continued to grow for many years until his health declined.
He was very involved in several community organizations through the years. He enjoyed Rotary Club, was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, was on the Board of Hedges Speech and Hearing, and he was involved with the Red Cross and United Way.
He was a great husband, father, and grandfather. We will all remember his smiling face.
He is survived by his wife, Betty, of the home, 2 daughters, Vicki Jeffery and husband, Paul, Sheila Healy and husband, Pat all of Enid and 8 grandchildren, Matt Jeffery and wife Sara of Albuquerque, NM, Trish Healy of Oklahoma City, OK, Tim Healy of Edmond, OK, Kim Crawford of Tahlequah, OK, and Rhonda, Todd, Aaron and Chad Henderson of Las Vegas, NV.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Patty Van Gaasbeck, and his son, Ronnie S Henderson, Jr.
Memorials may be made to the SPCA or the OMRF – Cancer Division. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.ladusauevans.com.