John Henry

John Henry, age

94, beloved husband, father, friend, and inspiration to all who knew him, young and old, passed away Wednesday, October 18, 2017. John was known for his wit, humor, patriotism, love of his family and friends.

John was born in Morgantown, WV in 1923, where he grew up on a farm. He met his wife, Helen Williams, on a blind date and they were only married for a few days before he deployed overseas. He enlisted in 1942 in the US Army Air Corp during WWII when he was 19 years old and he completed 27 missions as an engineer/ top turret gunner on a B17. He was shot down near Corsica, Italy, where he was MIA for four months before being captured and imprisoned in a German war camp. He became a POW, where he participated in the death march. He was liberated in April, 1945. John, to the very end, was so thankful to the Italians for keeping him alive during the four months prior to his capture by the Germans.

John returned to the US where he worked for a utility company for 32 years as an electrician/engineer. He was very active in the Masonic Lodge, Lions Club, member of the Oakland Country Club, member of Terra Alta Methodist Church, volunteered as a firefighter for many years, and attended Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque. John was also an avid snow mobile.

He is survived by his daughter, Sherry Dunbar Gould; granddaughter, Heather Bickel and husband, Eric; two great-grandchildren, Ryan and Laura Bickel; and many cherished relatives. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, in 2010.

Friends and family may visit Tuesday, October 24, 2017 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at FRENCH-Wyoming. Services will be held Wednesday, October 25, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. also at FRENCH – Wyoming, with a reception to follow. Full Military Honors will then be performed at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 3:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to Wounded Warriors. Please visit our online guestbook for John at www.FrenchFunerals.com