Clarence Edward Henson

Clarence Edward Henson, of Louisville, died Friday, February 28, 2003, at the Trager Pavilion of Jewish Hospital at the age of 86. He was born in Oil City, LA, in 1916, to Louisa and Samuel Henson. Mr. Henson's career in radio and electrical engineering spanned over 60 years. Educated at John Brown University, he started to work as an engineer at WHAS radio in 1939 and left in the late 1950s. During World War II, Mr. Henson served in the Navy, working with the development and installation of the LORAN navigational system, first at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Radiation Laboratories and then installing LORAN stations throughout the world. He was honorably discharged with the rank of major. Mr. Henson founded the Louisville Radio School in 1948, one of the first integrated schools in Kentucky. In 1964, the Louisville Radio School's station WLRS-FM went on the air. In addition to WLRS, Mr. Henson formerly owned and operated WAVG-AM in Louisville; WXVW-AM in Jeffersonville, IN; WORX AM and FM in Madison, IN; and KISO-AM and KLOZ-FM in El Paso, TX. Mr. Henson was a professional engineer. In 1947, he founded, owned and operated Electronic Laboratories, a consulting broadcast engineering company. He was also part-owner of another engineering company, Cepeda and Associates. He received the Kentucky Broadcasting Association's Kentucky Mike Award to recognize his lifetime achievement in the broadcast industry in Kentucky. Cora Burns Henson, his wife of 54 years, preceded him in death in 2000. He is survived by his three children, Susan Henson Baker, Louisa Weeks Henson and Edward Henson, Jr.; his children's spouses, Nicholas Baker, Theodore Mussler and Gail Ritchie Henson; six grandchildren, Hank, Sarah and Matthew Baker and Elizabeth, Ted and John Henson; a niece, Marie O'Bryan of Owensboro, KY; four stepgrandchildren, John and Jennifer Schnelle and Stephen and Patrick Mussler; and one step-great-grandchild, Cameron Schnelle. " Mr. Henson had a strong religious faith, and his belief was central to his life." Burial will be private. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, March 4, 2003, at 5 p.m. at the Bardstown Road Presbyterian Church, 1772 Bardstown Rd. Visitation will immediately follow the service at the church from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Resthaven Funeral Home in charge of arrangements Memorials may be sent to the Louisville Nature Center, 3745 Illinois Ave., Louisville, KY 40213.