Chester M Henry

Lieutenant Colonel Retired Chester Marvin Henry age 103, a veteran of WWII, revered husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle and friend peacefully passed away in his sleep on December 30, 2025 in Tempe, Arizona.

Born on June 21, 1922 in Belknap, Illinois, he was the fifth child of David Cleveland Henry and Rosie Belle Pumphrey.

A graduate of Phoenix Union High School, he worked for Holsum Bakery as a baker before enlisting in the Army Air Corp February 17, 1943. Chester served his country as a pilot during WWII, flying B-17s and training bombardiers and navigators in Victorville, California. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal. In Bangor, Maine he trained returning pilots on instruments enabling them to fly using just instruments. After the war, he helped mapping the Philippine islands. He retired from active duty in 1947. He remained in the reserves to complete his 20 years service.as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force. Chester was intelligent and worked hard to care for his family. He drove tanker trucks for Phoenix Fuel, was parts manager for Arizona Equipment Supply and the mine at Bagdad then spent the rest of his working years at AiResearch/ Allied Signal/ Garrett as supply chain manager. With a well-organized mind, he was excellent at his job. He was thrilled when his son Chet and Granddaughter Debi also came to work at Garrett. The job he enjoyed the most though, was flying airplanes. He taught his sons to recognize what types of airplanes were flying overhead. He loved baseball and coached his sons’ Little League teams. His family was his number one priority. Homemade ice cream floats, family card games, camping, trekking to cut down a Christmas tree each year and excursions to the Arizona lakes with extended family were all shared with those he loved most.

He is survived by his three sons, Chester (Bonny), Joseph (Elaine), Robert (Careen); grandchildren Christine Schatz (Gary), Kathryn Hershberger (Andrew), Michael Henry (Lynn), Brian Henry (LynDale), Justin Bleyle (Tammy), Joseph Bleyle, Christa Bleyle (Dan Carroll) and fifteen great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, David C. and Rosie B. Henry; love of his life, wife Eleanor Christine Wilhoit; granddaughter Deborah Lynn McDermott (Jeff), five siblings Robert Lloyd, Lora Gertrude, David Lewis, Gussie Elisabeth, and Bernita Lucille.

A memorial service will be held at Green Acres Mortuary, 401 N. Hayden Rd., Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 2pm. Military honor guard and internment of the ashes will be at Green Acres Cemetery at 3pm.