Harry Adams Henderson was born October 10, 1923, to Glen Adams and Bernarda Lillie (Harry) Henderson and in Portland Oregon. He joined a brother Glenn Henderson and sister MaryJo to comprise the family unit. The family moved to St Helens when Harry was about 6 years old. In time, Harry would help his father in running the pharmacy/post office in town. He graduated St Helens high school and moved to Portland to live with his aunt and uncle where he found a job as the first bicycle messenger at the shipyard on Front avenue. Shortly thereafter he was able to afford college at Oregon State by taking a job as a houseboy at one of the sororities on campus and by playing drums in a dance band at night. His matriculation at college was interrupted by World War II as he signed up for duty with the Navy. He left Bremerton, Washington, on D-Day to provide support by replacing crews lost during the battle for Saipan. He was stationed on the aircraft carrier USS Kalinin Bay where his crew would fly missions to soften up the enemy prior to invasion. His role was as a navigator/gunner on these bombing missions.
After the war he returned to college to finish his degree in business and, after graduating, worked several odd jobs before finally landing a job as a pharmaceutical representative with Lederle Laboratories. He married Phyllis Beckel in 1951 and found a home in Salem, Oregon.They welcomed their first child Jeffrey Adams in 1952 and later Janice Bernarda in 1954. The family moved to Lake Oswego in 1960 and grew by one with the arrival of DeWitt Harry in that same year. The family enjoyed their time in Lake Oswego with many fun excursions on the lake as well as the usual family summer vacation times. Harry's job was to travel to doctors' offices (and later hospitals) around the region and he would often be out for days at a time. During this time he was also playing in dance bands in the Portland area. He would play in "combos" which were typically comprised of 3 or 4 musicians and they predominantly played the the Great American Songbook (standards) from the 1930's and 1940's. Even with his side projects, Harry would always manage to find time to be with his family on the weekends.
Harry and Phyllis would part ways in 1984. Harry would marry his second wife Doris Denison in 1986 and they enjoyed their time together until her untimely death in 1991. Several years thereafter he would find a new soul mate in Marguerite Oliver and they enjoyed a committed relationship until her passing 5 years ago.
Harry retired from pharmaceutical sales in 1987 and would spend a lot of his spare time woodworking in his well-appointed garage woodworking shop. All throughout his life he consistently played in several bands including his own dance band. Other bands he played for included the Clackamas Community Band, the Metro Concert Band and the Lake Oswego Millennium Concert Band. He also accompanied the Northwest Senior Theater for several years and the "Way Way Off Broadway" singing group (which is where he met Marguerite). During these last 6 years Harry quite enjoyed his time at Russellville Plaza where he found many new friends and engaged in a variety of social activities.
Harry passed away on April 11, 2018. He is survived by his children: Jeffrey Adams Henderson, Janice Bernarda Borgatti, and DeWitt Harry Henderson as well as his grandson Tully Adams Henderson.
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