Howard R. Henson

Howard R. Henson, 86, of Grand Tower, died Monday, Sept. 28, 2009, at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Marion.

He was born in Grand Tower on May 20, 1923, the son of Heenan B. and Ethel I. Wilson Henson.

He married Margie Dale Ellet on Feb. 21, 1942. She preceded him in death on Nov. 2, 2007.

Mr. Henson was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. Before his retirement he was a heavy equipment operator in the construction industry. Mr. Henson had been a resident of the Anna Illinois Veterans Home in Anna for the past four years.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, today, at Walker Hill Cemetery in Grand Tower. Pastor Peggy Camp will officiate.

Military rites will be accorded by the American Legion Paul Stout Post No. 127 and VFW Post No. 7190 both of Murphysboro, VFW Post No. 2605 Carbondale and the Jackson County Disabled American Veterans Chapter 69. There will be no visitation. Family and friends are requested to gather at the cemetery.

Memorials can be made to the Lighthouse Christian Assembly Church in Grand Tower.

Survivors include two daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and Lester Clover of Scott City, Mo., and Kay and John Ellet of Bluffs; one son and two daughters-in-law, Robert and Joy Henson of Grand Tower and Judy Henson of Grand Tower; 16 grandchildren; and 29 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Carole Henson; and two sons, Jim and Jerry Henson.

Crawshaw Funeral Home in Murphysboro is in charge of arrangements.