Dr. Charles William "Bill" Henry

Dr. Charles William "Bill" Henry Jr. died peacefully, surrounded by his beloved family on November 6, 2005. A native son of Virginia, he graduated from Virginia Tech, the University of Georgia and the University of Hawaii, and pursued a career as a veterinarian. In 1969, after a brief time working in his father's, Charles William Henry Sr., Chesterfield County veterinary practice, Bill was called to serve in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps. Bill took this opportunity to see the world outside of his beloved Virginia, and was stationed in Texas, Germany, Korea, Italy and Hawaii. During this time, Bill and his first wife, Evelyn Henry, were blessed with the birth of their first child, Charles William "Trey" Henry III. These were wonderful and exciting times for Bill and his new young family. After spending some time overseas at European Army postings, Bill and family returned stateside in the early 1970's. Bill spent a few years working for the Department of Defense in Washington D.C., but yearned to return to Richmond, Virginia to be close to his extended family and friends. When the opportunity to run the post veterinary clinic opened up at Ft. Lee in Petersburg, Va., Bill jumped at the chance. When the Army required Bill to move to a new posting, Dr. Henry found he could not leave his extended family and beloved state again. In the late 1970's, Bill was honorably discharged from the Army and spent the next several months planning and building his first "dream" home on his family property in Chesterfield County. During this period, a second child, Sarah Lyn Henry, was born. In his civilian career, he worked for A. H. Robbins in veterinary research, and was the Director of the VCU Animal Resources Department for 15 years, from which he retired in 2004. These were some of the best years of Bill's life. He met and fell in love with his second wife, Jeanette Smith, and her two beautiful girls, Aimee and Sabrina Smith. After getting four kids through college, Bill and Jeanette built their "dream" home on Falling Creek Reservoir next to Bill's mother, Lavelette Glenn Henry. Bill will be lovingly remembered for his carpentry and automotive talents, his love of reading, bird watching and gardening, and his commitment to his church community. He was an inspiration to family and countless friends through his courage, convivial spirit, open heart, and warm displays of affection for all whom he loved. His survivors include his cherished wife of 13 years, Jeanette Henry; his son, Charles William "Trey" Henry III and Trey's wife, Kristi Kuhnle; his daughters, Sarah Lyn Henry, Aimee Nichole Smith and Sabrina Michelle Smith; his grandsons, Charles William "Liam" Henry IV and Colin Mitchell Henry; and his sisters, Debbie Henry Tyson and Cindy Glenn Henry. A celebration of Dr. Bill Henry's life will be held on Saturday, November 12, at 3 p.m. at his church, The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond, 1000 Blanton Avenue, 355-0777. Donations in Dr. Henry's honor may be made to The First Unitarian Universalist Church of Richmond Endowment Fund or the Meadowdale Library Collection, Central Library, P.O. Box 297, Chesterfield, Va. 23832.