Robert Franklin "Frank" Henry,
93, of Cherry Tree, died Wednesday,
July 1, 2009, at his home.
The son of John Calvin and Florence
Julia (Rager) Henry, he was
born on Sept. 20, 1915, in Montgomery
Township, Indiana
County.
He attended the Montgomery
Township High School in Arcadia.
Mr. Henry was a member of the
former Hazelet United Methodist
Church.
He served as a staff sergeant in
the Army Air Corp during World
War II as part of the European Air
Offensive with the 96 Bomb
Group 337th Bomb Squadron.
He was shot down on Oct. 14,
1943, over northern France when
returning from a bombing raid at
Schweinfurt, Germany. He got
with the French underground
and stayed with them until May
8, 1944, when he was turned over
the Gestapo SS. He was held for
three months in French prisons
at Bagneres, De Luchon,
Toulouse and Paris. Frank was
taken from Paris to Germany the
day before Paris was liberated.
He spent time at a couple of
prison camps before reaching
Dulaglueft on Nov. 4, 1944, where
he stayed until Feb. 4, 1945,
when the Russians got too close
and he and the other prisoners
were taken on an 87-day walk
across northern Germany. He
was freed on May 2, 1945, by the
British Second Army between
Hamburg and Lubeck. He returned
home on July 5, 1945.
He received a number of service
medals, including the EAME
Ribbon with one Bronze Star; the
Airman A1-Medal with one oak
leaf cluster; and the Purple
Heart.
Mr. Henry was a member of the
VFW; the Cherry Tree American
Legion; the Schweinfurt Memorial
Association; Disabled American
Veterans; and the American
Ex-Prisoners of War.
Mr. Henry was a rural mail carrier
for many years with the
Cherry Tree Postal Service.
Mr. Henry married his late
wife, Jean "LaRue" Henry, on
Aug. 15, 1945.
He is survived by three children:
Tricia Iannone and husband
Ed, Savannah, Ga.; Richard
Thomas "Tom" Henry, Cherry
Tree; and Connie J. "CJ" Henry
and husband Rickie Howell, King
William, Va.; five foster children:
Dean Smith, Utah; Wendall
Smith, Indiana; Jerry Smith, Clymer;
Alice Gray and husband
Floyd, Shelocta; and Sandi Fairman
and husband David, Indiana;
12 grandchildren: Brandon
LeGars and wife Terri; Landon
LeGars and wife Jen; Cory
LeGars; Lacie Jones and husband
Richard; Rona Tyger; Jason Tyger
and wife Debbie; Alyssa Henry;
Christy Elias and husband
Lance; Kara Fleming and husband
Keith; Stacie Smith and
husband Michael; Sabrina
Condino and husband Jason;
and Shawn Julock; and 17 greatgrandchildren.
Also surviving are
his brother, Murray R. Henry and
wife Roberta, of Cherry Tree; a
sister-in-law, Esther Henry, of
Utah; numerous nieces and
nephews; and a special friend,
Juanita.
Mr. Henry was preceded in
death by his parents; his wife
LaRue, on Dec. 25, 1987; a foster
daughter, Rose Lute, in 1986; six
brothers: John, twin brothers Almont
"Al" and Delmont "Del,";
Jim Alvin "Doot" and Sidney
"Sid" Henry; and two sisters,
Beulah Orr and Alice Baker.
Friends will be received from 3
to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the
Rairigh Funeral Home Ltd., Hillsdale.
An 11 a.m. funeral service
will be held at the funeral home
Saturday with Pastor Mark Brady
officiating.
Interment will follow at the
Thompson Cemetery in Hillsdale,
with the observance of military
honors by the Cherry Tree
American Legion Post 521.