Rodney D. Henry

Obituary Rodney D. Henry died March 1, 2021, age 85, as a result of bladder cancer. He was born January 1, 1936, the son of the late Robert B. Henry and Olive Naomi Erisman Henry, in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Quakertown High School, 1953; Wesleyan University, BA 1957; and University of Pennsylvania Law School, LLB 1960. He served in the US Air Force in Newfoundland, Canada, as a Judge Advocate from 1961 to 1964, where he achieved the rank of Captain. Rodney met his wife, Janenne J. Henry, who survives him, a native of Manhattan, Kansas, at Earnest Harmon Air Force Base, Stephenville, Newfoundland, when she was a teacher at an Air Force dependents school. He practiced law in Quakertown from 1964 to 2021, for the last 20 years as a partner with his son, Carter P. Henry. For 24 years he was the Treasurer of Richland Library Company (established 1788). He was the driving force behind a collection of 81 stories by locals entitled Juniper Street and also helped produce Dangerous Journeys to Freedom, Latvian Immigration to Applebachsville and Quakertown, Pennsylvania, (published by Richland Library Company in 2015 and 2019, respectively). A singer and a reader, Rodney was knowledgeable about classical music which he loved, along with jazz, and opera. He sang bass in various choirs. His other hobbies included studying German with Dr. Viehmeyer at Schwenkfelder Library (for the past 10+ years), gardening, and hiking. He liked to travel both within the United States to destinations such as American Indian country in the US Southwest, the New Jersey shore and New England, and to Europe where he visited around a dozen countries on different trips. (The portrait photo in this announcement was taken on the terrace of a restaurant in Nyon, Vaud, Switzerland, in August 2008.) He enjoyed hosting foreign exchange students, one from Japan and one from Sweden, who became part of our family. Several years ago he renewed college friendships via the Internet and in person with nine fellow Wesleyan graduates. They also produced a collection of stories about their college days. Rodney will be remembered as our wonderful husband, father, grandfather, friend, professional and leader with his knowledge, memory, work ethic, honesty, curiosity, generosity, humility, sense of humor, easy-going style and joie de vivre. He is sadly missed. Along with his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Melinda Henry, of Mies, Vaud, Switzerland, his son and daughter-in-law, Carter and Sarah Henry, of Quakertown, and his grandchildren, Grace and Patrick. He was predeceased by his sisters, Professor Barbara H. Long and Patricia A. Davis. Contributions in his memory may be sent to Richland Library, 44 South Main Street, Quakertown, PA 18951, or to United Friends School, 1018 West Broad Street, Quakertown, PA 18951. Services Private Services