Lavern Henderson

OBITUARY: LaVern Blanchard Henderson

LaVern Blanchard Henderson, 80, Topeka, died Tues., Nov. 14, 2006, at St. Francis Hospital. He was born March 14, 1926, in Watonga, Blaine County, OK, the son of William Francis and Lulu Maude (Hays) Henderson. After the death of his mother, he moved to Great Falls, MT, with his father.

LaVern served in the U.S. Navy from March 15, 1943, to Dec. 18, 1945, having served in the Asiatic Pacific 85th Task Force. Awards included Victory Medal, America's Campaign, Asiatic Campaign, and Silver Star.

LaVern received a B.S.B.A. Degree from Villanova University. He worked in Aero Space Companies and assembled the J-1 Computer that put John Glenn in orbit. The Computer is now stored in Washington D.C.'s Smithsonian Institute. As a Value Engineering Specialist with G.E., LaVern was credited with millions of dollars of savings in renegotiating portions of Government Contacts with significant income to G.E.

After military contracts phased out, LaVern moved from Philadelpia to Cleveland, OH, as manager of Support Engineering Group, and then as an Industrial Engineering trouble shooter for Diamond Shamrock; and then joined a Consulting Firm in Chardon, OH.

He was married to Mabel A. (Clem) Burwell on May 15, 1950, in Baltimore, MD. They moved to Topeka in 1991, to be nearer family.

Surviving are his wife, Mabel, of the home; a daughter: Fern Diehl of Plains, MT; a son: Irl LaVern Henderson of Oxnard, CA; 6 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.

U.S. Navy Military graveside services will be at 10:00 a.m., Thurs., Nov. 16, 2006, at America City Cemetery in Nemaha County.

LaVern will lie in state from 3:00 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, at Penwell-Gabel Parker-Price Chapel, 245 N.W. Independence. Memorial contributions may be made to Philip Billard Post # 1650, V.F.W., 3110 S.W. Huntoon, Topeka, KS 66604, or the charity of the donor's choice. To leave a special message for the family online, visit www.PenwellGabel.com.