Thomas Stalworth Henderson
11/1/1919 - 11/17/2016

Thomas S. Henderson, Jr. was born November 1, 1919 in Jersey City, New Jersey to Thomas S. and Kathryn Moran Henderson. A member of the Greatest Generation, he grew up during the Great Depression, served his country during World War II and returned home to raise a family. Tom was an inadvertent, but enthusiastic Texas Aggie. When this Jersey boy was offered a chance to attend Texas A&M, he joined the Corps of Cadets, not knowing what awaited this Yankee from New Jersey. He must have endured the teasing with grace because he was designated the "Best-Drilled Sophomore" and went on to become a member of the Ross Volunteers. The Aggie War Hymn was forever the anthem of his household. He graduated in 1941 with a commission in the U.S. Army. After the war he married Helen G. Izon in 1946 and they started their family in San Angelo, Texas. He relocated to Waco, Texas where he was a sales manager for Royal Doulton China his entire working life. He and Helen had four children and sent them all through college. His giving nature extended to their friends, and they always knew the Henderson house was a place for a quick meal or a longer stay when they were at loose ends. He encouraged, employed and mentored many who still call him friend. After retirement he took his work ethic and gregarious nature to Waco's Providence Hospital, where he worked as a Providence Auxiliary volunteer and served as its president. He was recognized at the age of 85 for having given over 20,000 volunteer hours working in their emergency room. After Helen's death he married LaVelle Martin Henderson, a longtime family friend, and added a stepson, step-grandchildren and step-great grands to his circle of people to love. After LaVelle's death he moved to Lake Jackson and built a new family at Carriage Inn and St. Michael's Catholic Church. He was a faithful Roman Catholic and loved, and was loved by, his Lord. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and his two wives. He is survived by his brother, Francis Law Henderson and his wife, Helen. He leaves his children to keep his stories alive: Mary Henderson Meyers and husband Bruce, Thomas S. Henderson, III and wife Dorlee, Catherine (Suzie) Henderson and partner Gordon Locke, and Winifred Henderson Dominguez and husband Joe and stepson, Craig Bryant and wife Debi. He will be missed by his grandchildren: Lindsay Meyers, Elisabeth Meyers Yoder and husband Patrick, Nathan Henderson and Joel Henderson and by two great-grandchildren, Oliver and Graham Yoder, 2 step-grandchildren, their spouses and their four children. There will be a visitation at Lakewood Funeral Chapel from 4-6 p.m. Saturday, November 19. There will be a Funeral Mass at St. Michael's Catholic Church on Monday, November 21 at 9:30 a.m. Graveside service will be in Waco, TX at Waco Memorial Park, 6623 I-35, Robinson, TX 76706, at 3:30 p.m. on Monday afternoon. We wish to thank the Staff and residents of Carriage Inn, Amy Flores for her friendship and faithful care, and Father Giovanni Nguyen and Dr. Alkesh Amin. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the St. Vincent De Paul Food Pantry at St. Michael's, 100 Oak Drive South, Lake Jackson, TX 77566.

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