Robert Bonner Henderson

Robert Bonner Henderson, of Coshocton, died Thursday morning, August 2, 2012. He was born April 2, 1912, in West Lafayette, Ohio, and lived all of his 100 years in Coshocton County on Morgan Run Road, Adams Street, Ninth Street and Brown’s Lane. He was the second oldest child of George and Anna Henderson’s ten children. He worked various jobs in and around Coshocton after graduating from West Lafayette High School in 1930 but found permanent employment at St. Regis Paper Company (formerly Muskingum Fiber) as a paper tender for 40 years, retiring in 1976. As a young man, he played baseball as a “southpaw” and played against Woody Hayes, then with Newcomerstown. World War II ended his pitching days and he served from 1942 until 1945 in the U.S. Army Air Forces in North Africa and later in Sicily, Corsica, and Italy, supporting single engine fighter-bombers and other aircraft in the 523rd Squadron, 27th Fighter Bomber Group. He was affectionately nicknamed “Ma” by others in his Squadron as, like a mother hen, he cared for and worried about his fellow service men. He continued that caring of others through out his life. He married Bernice Edith Todd in May of 1948. She died in April of 2012. They shared a common birthday and would have celebrated their 64th anniversary in May. He was a farmer at heart and loved gardening, sharing his luscious produce with others until he was 98. He loved reading, golfing, playing hausey, and talking with folks about current topics while sharing funny stories and past memories. His mind and his wit remained sharp. He cheered for the Buckeyes, the Tribe and the Browns and enjoyed watching a good boxing match. Bob served as a member of the Distribution Committee of the Coshocton Foundation, and on the Coshocton City Planning Commission. He also belonged to Grace United Methodist Church, and was a past president of his local United Paperworkers International Union. Three sisters and three brothers, in addition to his parents and wife, Bernice, predeceased him. He is survived by his daughter, Vicki Henderson Schooler, son-in-law, Dean, three grandchildren, Wes, Deana and Chelsea Schooler, all of Boulder, Colorado, a step granddaughter, Heather (Steve) of Berkeley, California, and a step grandson, Matthew, of Los Angeles, California. He has three living brothers, Rodney (Karen) of Lorain, Ohio, Don (Betty) of Stevensville, Michigan, and Archie (Judy) of Honesdale, Pennsylvania and many nieces and nephews. Bob was salt of the earth, a good man, and a humorous guy who enjoyed people and appreciated gaining knowledge of the world. He will be so missed by those who loved him and called him Dad, Grandpa Bob, brother, uncle and friend. Calling hours will be held at Given-Dawson Funeral Home, Coshocton, from 2-4 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012. A memorial service will be at 2:00 pm at Grace United Methodist Church, Coshocton, on Tuesday, August, 2012, with a reception in the parlor afterwards. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice, First Step, Salvation Army or Grace United Methodist Church; all Coshocton organizations that Bob believed were worthy of support. An online memorial can be viewed at www.given-dawsonfuneralhome.com.