James D. Henson

James D. Henson, age 95, died at United Regional Hospital under the care of IntegraCare Hospice of Wichita Falls. Born in Delwin, Texas, on September 5, 1918 to William Preston Henson and Margaret Dallas Ham Henson of Paducah, TX, he spent most of his life in North Texas and resided the past fifty years in Lakeside City. James graduated from Childress High School and married Betty Lucas, the daughter of William Orin Lucas and Laura Elizabeth Harmon Lucas of Quanah, TX. They were married by Rev. Ira A. Smith in Quanah in 1938. This past June20 he had celebrated his seventy-fifth anniversary with Betty.

James worked as a grocer and baker until 1941 when he enlisted with the US Air Force and served during WWII until 1945. James and Betty operated a bakery in Archer City, TX after the war and later moved to Wichita Falls where they managed a leather goods store on Eighth Street. In 1961, James became the first Student Center Director of Midwestern State University where he served the campus for more than twenty years. James was a source of inspiration and is best remembered for his great sense of humor with an untiring dedication and compassion for his peers, students, and family.

In 1963 they moved with their two children Jim and the late Betty Ann (Kane) to the South Side of Lake Wichita where they became one of the founding families of Lakeside City, TX on September 7, 1963. James was recently honored as the longest continuously residing citizen of Lakeside City. He was also a major contributor/sponsor to the annual Lakeside City Citizens’ Appreciation Day Celebration. He served with the Masons, attended Fain Presbyterian Church, and did much volunteer work for the university and community until his retirement in 1982. Among his hobbies were camping, construction, arts, and crafts. He served for several years as the president of the Wichita Falls Art Association. He is survived by his wife Betty, their son Jim and daughter-in-law Sue Henson, a son-in-law Bill Kane of Somonauk, IL, and two grandchildren, Cole Henson who works for Gensler Architecture in Dallas, and Adam Henson, who is employed by Trader Joe’s in Buffalo, New York. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Jack, Bill, and Jerry, and his sister Sheila.

A graveside service will be held at Crestview Memorial Park at 3 PM on Thursday, January 9, 2014 under the direction of Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home. The family will hold a celebration memorial at his children’s home in Lakeside City on Saturday, January 11, 2014 with Isaac Butterworth officiating and Dr. Dan White presenting musical selections.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be made to The LAKESIDE CITY CITIZENS’ APPRECIATION DAY fund (Attention Amy Anderson, secretary, P.O. Box 4287, Wichita Falls, TX 76308) or INTEGRACARE HOSPICE (2733 Midwestern Parkway, Ste. 120 Wichita Falls, TX 76308)