Willard N. Henderson

Willard N. Henderson, (W5UZV), 88, went to be with our Lord on October 8, 2013. He was born March 12, 1925 in Oklahoma City to Noel Ruskin and Elizabeth Hazel (Brittain) Henderson. He grew up in the Jet, Cherokee communities and graduated from Jet High School in 1942. He attended college in Monroe, Louisiana (now ULM) for 2 semesters then transferred to Bethany Peniel College (now Southern Nazarene University), to continue his education until he was drafted into the Army. Willard was in the Army for three years and three days. He served 18 months in Okinawa in the Army Signal Corp. While on Okinawa he obtained his first amateur radio operator license which had a J9XXX I.D.; he was honorably discharged from the Army in April 1949. In February 1950 Willard returned to BPC to finish his college education. There he met his future wife, Jewel Lee Landtroop, who he married October 27, 1950. He is survived by his wife, Jewel; daughter Cynthia Ann James and husband Alfy; son Willard Jr. and wife Sarah; daughter Terrie Lee Hardin and husband Don; 15 grandchildren: Dail James, Eddie James, Jeremy Henderson, Josh Henderson, Rachel Henderson, Rebecca Henderson, Adam Henderson, Seth Henderson, Shawn Coppock, Jon Hardin, Shelle Hardin, Gennifer Baier, Brent Hardin, Chris Hardin, Jake Hardin; and numerous great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held on October 11, 2013 at the Maranatha Baptist Church of Western Oaks.