Notes for: Lorraine (Lorane) Bernice Bodine
From Ronny Bodine:
Obituary, Ventura County Star (Camarillo, Calif.) of 29 June 1997.
Donald Charles Henry age 86 of Port Hueneme passed away Thursday June 26 1997 in Port Hueneme after a 21/2year illness. He was born Sept. 28 1910 in Belvidere Ill. and has been a county resident for 39 years coming from Omaha Neb. Don was retired. Don was a lover of flying. He made his first solo flight on April 1 1931. He attended Marquet University in Wisconsin and Parks Air College in St. Louis Missouri. During WWII Don served his country in the 2nd Army Air Force hauling mail and freight with the Civil Air Patrol. On New Year's Day 1937 on a blind date Don met the woman he would spend the rest of his life with Lorraine. They became husband and wife on April 14 1937. Don seemed able to do whatever he set his mind to. He worked for Woodward Governor Co. wiring farms for electricity in the rural Midwest. Together they owned an appliance shop later a movie theater and in the basement of that theater started an Army surplus store where he did gunsmithing including woodworking and acid bluing. He managed an airport where he bought damaged airplanes and rebuilt them as well as teaching many others the joy of flying during more than 50 years as a pilot. He sold Buick and Cadillac automobiles and even designed corrugated packaging for Omaha Box Company. Having had enough of snow Don moved his wife daughter and son here to Oxnard from Omaha Neb. in 1958. In his newly chosen home he served on the Community Chest Committee sold X-ray equipment part time served on the Airport Advisory Committee for the Ventura County Board of Supervisors owned and maintained some apartments helped start a local charter of a national pilots association owned a boat shop and served with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Don was also an active member of the Masonic Lodge EE341. He made much of the walnut furniture and turned many gavels in his home workshop that are still in use today. Don has touched many many lives in his 86 years and will be sorely missed. He also loved music and was a great dancer. He is survived by his wife of 60 years Lorraine; daughter Donna and her husband Kenneth Gard; son Lorin Henry all of Oxnard; grandchildren Karen Gallion of Spokane Wash. Deana and Joel Larkin of Oak View Calif. Steve Gard of Oxnard and Carlyn and Charles Henry of Las Vegas Nev.; great-grandchildren Jonathan and Benjamin Gallion of Spokane Wash. Rebecca Tyler and Jaclyn Larkin of Oak View Calif. Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. on Sunday June 29 1997 at James A. Reardon Mortuary in Oxnard. Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday June 30 1997 at the Ivy Lawn Cemetery with Pastor Milt Davis and representatives of Masonic Lodge officiating. Interment is at Ivy Lawn Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Harbor Missionary Church 1711 Wood Place Ventura Calif. 93003 or Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association Hospice 1996 Eastman Ave. Suite 101 Ventura Calif. 93003.