Charles Manning Henderson II of Tyrone, Ga. died Wednesday, December 16, 2015, nine days after his 94th birthday.
He was born December 7, 1921 in Albany, Ga. to Rosamond Wooten and Stanley Page Henderson. For a time the family lived in Shellman, Ga. then moved to Birmingham, Ala. where he grew up and in 1940 was graduated from Ramsey High School.
Mr. Henderson was a member of the United States Army Air Corps during World War II where he served with distinction in the Pacific Theater of operations as a flight engineer on a B24 bomber. For his service he was awarded six medals including the Air Medal with two clusters, meaning it was awarded three times. This medal is given to someone committing heroic actions or meritorious service while participating in aerial flight. At the end of the war Mr. Henderson was honorably discharged as a Technical Sargent.
After his military service he attended Auburn University and then began work in Marietta, Ga. at Lockheed Aircraft Corporation retiring after 35 years with that company. He worked as an engineer – a senior manufacturer planner.
He was very proud of his thoroughly equipped work shop which had been carefully and well built by a neighbor. He loved to tinker with one project or another and was very gifted in making home repairs. Mr. Henderson had a unique sense humor which provoked many laughs from his listeners.
For 52 years Mr. Henderson was married to Cornelia Ann Dean of Shellman, Ga. They were members of the Hopewell United Methodist Church in Tyrone, Ga. where they were very involved with and enjoyed the activities of the Recycled Kids organization.
Mr. Henderson is survived by a son, Charles Manning Henderson III, a daughter, Laura Ann Henderson Gabbard, her husband David Scott Gabbard, two grandsons, Maxwell Gene Gabbard and Samuel Dean Gabbard as well as a nephew, two nieces, three great nephews, a great niece and numerous cousins. He was predeceased by his sister, Emalyn Henderson Spencer.
Visitation will be held at Parrott Funeral Home, 8355 Senoia Road, Fairburn, Ga. on Friday, December 18, 2015 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. The memorial service will be held Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Hopewell United Methodist Church, 351 Jenkins Road, Tyrone, Ga., with Minister Billy Beard officiating. Interment will be at Rehoboth Cemetery in Shellman, Ga. and will be at a date still to be determined.
Parrott Funeral Home & Crematory, 770-964-4800.
