C. Ray Henton
February 6, 1925 — June 26, 2005
C. Ray Henton, 80, Cedar Rapids, died Sunday, June 26, 2005, in the VA Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa, after a long and courageous battle with heart disease. The family will greet friends from 4-8 p.m. Friday, July 1, 2005, at Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.
He was born Feb. 6, 1925, on a small farm in the Stockdale area near Manhattan, Kansas, in Riley County, the son of Delmar C. Henton and Frances V. (Hales) Henton. He grew up in the Big Blue Valley area, north of Manhattan, where he attended the local school (District 108 Pottowatamie County). He graduated as the Salutatorian of the Stockdale Rural High School class of 1942. On December 31, 1949 he was united in marriage to Mary Joan Gilmore in Manhattan, Kansas.
Ray joined the US Navy in 1944 and proudly served during WWII in the Asiatic Pacific Theater with the Submarine Division 262, Squadron 26, based in Fremantle Harbor near Perth, Australia, until 1946. Ray was called to duty in 1951 during the Korean War and served as a Yeoman Typist Second Class for the Activation Officer at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, and was released to inactive duty in 1952. He became a Licensed Journeyman Plumber in 1950 and worked in the family business of Henton Plumbing and Heating in Manhattan, Kansas. He was active in the Oak Grove School District serving as Director for 6 years. Ray was also very active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars #1786 in Manhattan, Kansas, proudly serving as Post Commander #1186 in 1964 & 1965. Moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he was initiated into the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 125 on May 27, 1965, and retired on March 1, 1985. After retirement, Ray and Mary lived in Arlington, Texas, for 10 years before moving back to Cedar Rapids.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Ila (Johnson) Henton of Marysville, Kansas; two brothers, M. Dean Henton and Delmar C. Henton, Jr. both of Manhattan; and a sister, Mary Louise (Henton) Tolliver, of Kansas City, Kansas. He is survived by his wife; sister, Adel Arlene (Henton) Baker of Denver, Colorado; three sons, Randall Ray Henton of Topeka, Kansas, Robert Dean Henton and Scott Wayne Henton both of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; one daughter, Sandra Lynn (Henton) Cox of Zanesville, Ohio; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Ray had many friends and he will be dearly missed by all.
He was born Feb. 6, 1925, on a small farm in the Stockdale area near Manhattan, Kansas, in Riley County, the son of Delmar C. Henton and Frances V. (Hales) Henton. He grew up in the Big Blue Valley area, north of Manhattan, where he attended the local school (District 108 Pottowatamie County). He graduated as the Salutatorian of the Stockdale Rural High School class of 1942. On December 31, 1949 he was united in marriage to Mary Joan Gilmore in Manhattan, Kansas.
Ray joined the US Navy in 1944 and proudly served during WWII in the Asiatic Pacific Theater with the Submarine Division 262, Squadron 26, based in Fremantle Harbor near Perth, Australia, until 1946. Ray was called to duty in 1951 during the Korean War and served as a Yeoman Typist Second Class for the Activation Officer at the Bremerton Naval Shipyard, Bremerton, Washington, and was released to inactive duty in 1952. He became a Licensed Journeyman Plumber in 1950 and worked in the family business of Henton Plumbing and Heating in Manhattan, Kansas. He was active in the Oak Grove School District serving as Director for 6 years. Ray was also very active with the Veterans of Foreign Wars #1786 in Manhattan, Kansas, proudly serving as Post Commander #1186 in 1964 & 1965. Moving to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, he was initiated into the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 125 on May 27, 1965, and retired on March 1, 1985. After retirement, Ray and Mary lived in Arlington, Texas, for 10 years before moving back to Cedar Rapids.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Ila (Johnson) Henton of Marysville, Kansas; two brothers, M. Dean Henton and Delmar C. Henton, Jr. both of Manhattan; and a sister, Mary Louise (Henton) Tolliver, of Kansas City, Kansas. He is survived by his wife; sister, Adel Arlene (Henton) Baker of Denver, Colorado; three sons, Randall Ray Henton of Topeka, Kansas, Robert Dean Henton and Scott Wayne Henton both of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; one daughter, Sandra Lynn (Henton) Cox of Zanesville, Ohio; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Ray had many friends and he will be dearly missed by all.
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