Willis Jenning Henderson

Willis Henderson, age 98, of Garnett, Kansas, passed away on Monday, November 29, 2010, at the Anderson County Hospital in Garnett, Kansas. Willis was born on May 9, 1912, at Downs, Kansas, the son of James M. Henderson and Lela Florence (Rosell) Henderson. His family moved to Bush City when he was a young boy. He attended country schools in the Bush City area. In 1935, he started Henderson Truck Line. In 1943 he sold his truck to enter the Army. Willis served in the U.S. Army as a combat engineer from February, 1943 to December, 1945 during WWII. He was in the D-Day invasion of Normandy, France in 1944. Following the war Willis returned to Bush City where he worked in area oil fields, before returning to trucking. He owned and operated Henderson Truck Line for over 69 years. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Murray on August 10, 1988 at the First Baptist Church, Garnett, Kansas. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church; VFW Post #6397; American Legion Fuller-Thompson Post #48; Kincaid Masonic Lodge; and the Mirza Shrine of Pittsburg. He enjoyed dancing and watching ball games. Willis was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Milburn; his sister, Genevieve Seitz; and his first wife, Ruby. Willis is survived by his wife, Dorothy, of the home; a brother, Rollin Henderson of Kincaid, Kansas; many nieces and nephews and a host of friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM, Thursday, December 2, 2010, at the First United Methodist Church, Garnett, Kansas. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Kincaid Cemetery, Kincaid, Kansas. The family will greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wednesday evening at the Feuerborn Family Funeral Service Chapel, Garnett, Kansas. Memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church.