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Permanent Deacon Jake Henry dies

Catholic Herald Staff Report

Deacon Lawrence B. (Jake) Henry Jr. died Oct. 31 in Gainesville after
a long struggle with dementia. He was 76.

 

He was born March 24, 1941, in Altoona, Pa., to Lawrence and
Frances Henry. He graduated from Altoona Catholic High School and joined the
U.S. Air Force. He married Marilyn Montgomery Oct. 22, 1960.

deacon henry2

Deacon Lawrence  B. (Jake) Henry Jr. died Oct. 31. He was 76.

Deacon Henry earned a bachelor of science in meteorology from
Pennsylvania State University in 1967; an MBA in management from Inter-American
University in Puerto Rico, 1972; and a master’s in religious studies from Notre
Dame Pontifical Catechetical Institute in Arlington, 1986.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn. He is survived by his
daughters, Cheryl Gossman (Bill) and Denise Morrisey (Patrick); and his sons,
Lawrence (Madhu) and Kevin Henry (Ethel); 10 grandchildren; and nine siblings:
Sis, Mary, Debbie, Carol, Libby, Fran, Sue, Bernard and John.

Deacon Henry was ordained to the diaconate May 24, 1986, by Arlington
Bishop John R. Keating. He served at Good Shepherd Church in Alexandria,
1986-2000; following a transfer with the U.S. Air Force, he served the Diocese
of Colorado Springs, 2001-04; and Holy Trinity Church in Gainesville, 2005-11.

During his military career, Deacon Henry served as an airman,
noncommissioned officer, and an officer in flying and space operations,
logistics and acquisition assignments. He served as the director of program analysis
and administration with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Logistics in Washington. After his retirement from the Air Force, he continued
to serve as a civil servant with numerous senior positions at the Pentagon, Air
Force major air commands, and unified and binational commands. He earned
several military awards and honors, including the Defense Meritorious Service
Medal; Federal Employee Point of Light, 1991; Air Force Meritorious Civilian
Service Award, 1992; Federal Executive of the Year, 1998; and Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff Joint Meritorious Civilian Service Award, 2005.

A Mass of Christian Burial was offered Nov. 3 at St. Mary of
Sorrows Church in Fairfax. He was interred at Fairfax Memorial Park. 

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