Floyd W. Henderson

Floyd W. Henderson, age 90, of Grants Pass, died Sunday, March 15, 2009 at his home in Grants Pass.

Recitation of the rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 19, 2009 at Hull & Hull Chapel.

A memorial mass will be at 2:00 p.m., March 20, 2009 at St. Anne Catholic Church with Monsignor Gregory Moys officiating. A reception will follow the mass at Allen Creek Neighborhood Church, 922 West Harbeck Road, Grants Pass, Oregon 97527.

Contributions may be made to St. Anne Catholic School, 1131 NE 10th Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

He was born May 28, 1918 to William & Ina Mae Henderson in Loup City, Nebraska. He was one of eleven children. He graduated from high school in 1936. After graduating he traveled a little then went to work for Swanson's in Omaha, Nebraska. There he met his future bride, Ann Matya. They were married December 9, 1941. In January he was drafted in the Army. He became a bomber pilot with the Army Air Force 671st Squadron. He flew 68 combat missions. He received many honors including the Distinguished Flying Cross. He joined the Air Force Reserves and did duty periods at Hamilton Air Force Base. He was living in Fort Bragg, California at the time. He suffered an eye injury two weeks before he was scheduled to transition to jets in the Lockheed T-33 and F-80. He was promoted to Captain and given an honorable discharge just prior to the Korean War breaking out.

In 1961 he moved his family to Grants Pass and bought an alignment and brake shop which he called Henderson's Line-Up and Brake Shop. He retired in 1978. However he continued to help out at the shop well into his early 80's. He was a member of St. Anne Catholic Church, the Knight's of Columbus, the American Legion, and the Southern Oregon Warbirds. He enjoyed gardening, playing golf, horseshoes, and ping pong. He loved spending time with his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, Ann, sons Clarke and his wife Margo of Rocklin, California, Robert and his wife Barbara, and John and his wife Shawna, both of Grants Pass. Daughters Jacqueline and her husband Larry Heer of Albany, Oregon, Gayle and her husband Jerry Sorensen of Selma, Oregon, Maura and her husband Dan Kehr, of La Grande, Oregon and Mary King of Grants Pass. He has 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by two sons, Tommy in 1988 and Loren in 2008.

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