Charles E. Henry

Colonel Henry was born on 18 July 1942 in Beebe, Arkansas. He was a graduate of Beebe High School in 1960; he received an Associates of Arts Degree from Arkansas state University, and a B.S. in Liberal Arts from the University of New York. His military education was extensive and included Officers Candidate School, US Army Command and General Staff College, and he was a graduate of the US Army War College.

Colonel Henry began his military career in 1959 during his senior year of high school at which time he joined the Arkansas Army National Guard. He completed Officers Candidate School in 1970 and would go on to serve in numerous positions of increased authority and responsibility to include: Anti-Tank Platoon Leader, Battalion Support Platoon Leader, Unit Executive Officer; Unit Commander; Commandant, Arkansas Military Academy; Supply Management Officer and Commander, 39th Support Battalion, and the 39th Infantry Brigade, the “Arkansas Brigade.”

In August 1965, Colonel Henry began his Civil Service career as a Production Controller in the Arkansas Army National Guard Combined Support Maintenance Shop. He served in several progressive Civil Service Guard Technician positions that included State Training and Readiness Specialist; State Occupational and Safety specialist; Administrator, Arkansas Military Academy; Superintendent, and Combined Support Maintenance Shop;  Director of Logistics, and Deputy United States Property and Fiscal Officer for Arkansas. In August 1994, Colonel Henry was appointed as the United States Property and Fiscal Officer,   an Active Duty appointment, on behalf of the President of the United States.

Colonel Henry officially retired from active service in July 2002, with over 43 years of combined military service to his country.

In addition to Colonel Henry’s military service, he also served the City of Beebe as a member of the Volunteer Fire Department for 21 years. Upon retirement, Colonel Henry continued to serve the State of Arkansas as a member of the Arkansas Veterans Commission.

Colonel Henry and his wife, Christine, moved to McKinney, Texas in 2017, where they happily resided until his passing on 8 March 2024. They have two children and four grandchildren.

Visitation is 10:30-11:30 a.m. on Friday, March 29th at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home with Service to follow at 11:30 a.m. The burial will be at the Arkansas State Veterans Cemetery at 1:00 p.m.

Arrangements by Smith Westbrook Funeral Home, 404 W Dewitt Henry, Beebe, Arkansas. To view the online registry, visit www.smithfamilycares.com/westbrook