Orin Oliver Henderson

On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, Orin Oliver Henderson at the age of 96, surrounded by loving family at his home, went to be with his heavenly father. He was born on March 2, 1924 in Altavista, Virginia. His predeceased parents were Adna Henry Henderson and Ethel Gertrude Jordan Henderson. Orin had two predeceased brothers, Adna Henry Henderson, Jr, and Earl Alton Henderson.

A World War, II Navy veteran. He enlisted in the Navy on March 2, 1942 on his eighteenth birthday. While many read of history, Orin lived it! After his return, on March 15, 1945, Orin married the love of his life, Ora Mae Burgess Henderson. They were truly a fairytale story. They were next door neighbors as children and “grew-up” together. Orin and Ora were married for seventy-two years. Ora predeceased Orin in December of 2018.

During those seventy-two years, they were blessed with a large family. They had seven children, Otis Oliver Henderson (Norma), Sarah Henderson Sligh (Jimmy), Deborah Henderson Bennett, Cheryl Henderson Soult (Ronnie), Karen Henderson Patterson (Randy), Donna Henderson Dodd, (Bo) and their predeceased daughter, Glenna Henderson North. They were also blessed with thirteen grandchildren, Kimberly Henderson Staton (Bobby), Audrey Henderson Gray (Stephen), James (Jamie) Lawrence Sligh, Jr. (Carol), William Oliver Sligh (Jackie), Timothy (Timmy) Wayne Ewers (Angie), Michael (Mike) Orin Ewers, (Paula), R.C. North, Jr. (Becky), Christi North O’Daniel, (Matt), Ronald (Ron) Dwayne Soult (Jeannie), Terri Soult Booth, (Terry), Kendall Montaque Mays (Amy), Kelly Nixon Wall (David), Jennifer Nixon Woodard (Mark).

Orin’s legacy also includes thirty-two great grandchildren and eleven great-great-grandchildren.

Orin was a loving son, brother, husband, daddy, granddaddy, and friend to many. He had many nicknames. In the Navy, his buddies called him “Hank”, at work he was just known as “Henderson”, he was daddy, grandaddy and the grandchildren labeled him “Hollywood”, while they experienced many fun times fishing and hunting with him. But the most important name of all, he was Ora’s “darling”.

While raising his family, he worked in maintenance and the driver’s office at Central Virginia Training Center where he retired in 1988.

Back in the day, there was the saying, “you better have things in pecking order”. Orin always had things in order. For his love of Christ, as a young man, he was baptized at Central Baptist Church in Altavista, Virginia. Throughout life he never thought he had too many visitors or too many friends. He never met a stranger and was loved by many.

Our family is comforted knowing he has joined our mother in heaven and we are sure she was waiting for him for a dance.

A celebration of Orin’s life will be held graveside at Altavista Memorial Park on Wednesday, January 27, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. There will be no scheduled visitation at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Monelison Rescue Squad or Gentle Shepherd Hospice. The family would like to express their love and thanks to daddy’s long-term caregiver, Essie Harris and special thanks to Bonnie Taylor and Mary York.

To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.whittenmonelison.com.

Whitten Monelison Chapel is serving the family (434) 929-5712.