Norma Knowlton Henry

Norma K. Henry, age 75, died July 13, 2002 in San Antonio, TX. She died feeling loved and at peace with her husband at her side. Norma was a loving mother and friend, but her work in the community, as a tireless advocate for the mentally ill was perhaps her most lasting legacy to San Antonio and to many families with mentally ill family members. When her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia, Norma became a board member for the San Antonio Chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally ill and worked tirelessly to fundraise and raise awareness for the plight of the mentally ill. She was particularly concerned by the chronic homelessness of many of the mentally ill. Due to her work, there are now several complexes of housing for the mentally ill in San Antonio. To her family, Norma was a wife, mother, and friend who supported them with humor and wisdom. She traveled the world with her husband and children. But in her late life, her favorite activity was sitting with her family and friends talking and laughing. Norma was born in Michigan and received her RN Degree from Blodgett Hospital and her Bachelors from Michigan State University. She joined the Air Force in the early 1950's as a flight nurse. She was stationed in Casablanca, where she met her future husband, James. She left the Air Force to continue her education and after their marriage they were posted in Japan, Taiwan, and various US locations and eventually the family settled in San Antonio, where Norma resumed her nursing career, working at the Minter Clinic and Southwest General Hospital. She retired from nursing in 1970 and began a second career as a volunteer advocate for the mentally ill, receiving many local and national awards for her work. She was named one of the Express-News' Outstanding Women in 1991. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Lt. Col. James G. Henry, Ret; four children, Kathleen, Elizabeth, James and Martha; her son-in-law, Phil Henderson; her sister, Nancy Byram; and her grandchildren, Archer and Peter Henderson. The Hoods and the O'Briens were dear friends for many years