Thomas W. Henderson

Thomas W. Henderson of Grants Pass, Oregon peacefully passed on Nov. 27, 2010 at the age of 88. He was at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be held at Hull & Hull Funeral Home on Friday, December 3, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Hawthorne Memorial Gardens.

Tom was born on August 24, 1922 in a cabin on Galls Creek near Gold Hill, Ore. to Thomas A. Henderson and Bessie (Doren) Henderson. His early life was spent on the family ranch in Gold Hill, Oregon. After graduation from Gold Hill High School in 1941, he worked at the Benton Gold mine until he proudly joined the Navy for the next four years. He fought in the Pacific on his Destroyer Escort, the USS Dionne, until the end of the war.

Tom married Elaine Morgan during the war in 1943. They established their home in Grants Pass, Oregon and their legacy is carried on by their four children, Sandy Hammond from Gold Hill, Jill DeRose, Atascadero, California, Greg Henderson and Doug Henderson, both from Grants Pass, Oregon.

Tom established his own business in 1949, Henderson’s Radiator Service, in Grants Pass. At the age of 50, he retired from the radiator shop and enjoyed traveling to New Zealand, Australia, and Mexico. He spent many years flying his Cesna 172 Skyhawk airplane. He enjoyed taking his family and friends on trips and just fun plane rides. Tom also loved singing and playing his favorite Western music on his guitar. The family spent many summers water skiing and camping.

In 1985 he married Elizabeth. They spent the next 26 years enjoying traveling the world, hunting and fishing, and most of all sharing the love and companionship of their combined extended families.

He was a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge and a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge IOOF.

Tom is survived by his wife Elizabeth and his daughters Sandy (Dennis) Hammond and Jill (Al) DeRose, his sons Greg (Cassandra) Henderson and Doug (Marlene) Henderson, his stepdaughter Isolde (Mike) Stodelle, and stepsons Albert (Amy) Baumstark and Ed (Becky) Baumstark. He has 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. Preceded in death are his parents Thomas A. and Bessie Henderson, his sister Ethel Griggs, half sister Veta Liebman, and half brother Vern Henderson. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Lovejoy Hospice of Grants Pass.