Esther Violet Henry, 94, of Greenville, died on Thursday, April 21, 2022, at Greenville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, surrounded by her family.
Visitation will be held Thursday, June 2, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Assalley-Young Funeral Home, 118 E. College Avenue, Greenville. Graveside services will be conducted Friday, June 3, beginning at 1:15 p.m. at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, MO, with the Rev. Rosemary Captain officiating.
Mrs. Henry was born March 29, 1928, in Carlyle, to Walter E. and Carrie (Krug) Abernathy. She married Kenneth E. Henry on Sept. 4, 1948, in Hernando, MS, and he preceded her in death on Dec. 3, 2016.
She grew up in Carlyle and graduated from Carlyle High School with the class of 1946. She attended a year of nurse’s training at St. Mary’s Hospital in East St. Louis before her marriage.
Mrs. Henry and her husband resided in Cairo from 1953 to 1968 where she was active in social, school and church programs. She also worked for the Cairo Evening Citizen Newspaper. They moved to Greenville in 1968, and she was employed by the Greenville Advocate Newspaper from 1969 to 1987.
She was a member of the Bond County Homemakers Association, Benjamin Mills Chapter of the DAR and the Bond County Fair Association, overseeing the floral department for several years. She also served as a board member for the DeMoulin Museum.
After retirement, Mrs. Henry loved flower gardening, which led to her working part-time at a local greenhouse, travelling and spending time with her family and friends.
She is survived by her children, Pamela (Syd) Safriet of O’Fallon, Michael (Melisa) Henry of Woburn and Angela “Jan” (Don) Dalenberg of Pocahontas; seven grandchildren, Kara (Bryan) Hotard of Grand Junction, CO, Kendra (Tom Williams) Wickline of O’Fallon, Jody (Joe Bean) Nesbit of Litchfield, Donna Tedrick of Greenville, Heather (Vince) Dalenberg-Reincke of Hillsboro, Abby (Jeff) Kidd of Blacklick, OH, and Alex Dalenberg of Pocahontas; and 15 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Henry was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Gene Abernathy; and sister, Eva Culberson.
Memorials may be directed to the DeMoulin Museum, 205 S. Prairie St., Greenville, IL 62246 or the Greenville Masonic Lodge #245, 1111 E. College Ave., Greenville, IL 62246. Online condolences to the family may be left at www.assalleyfuneralhomes.com.
