ALDEN “BILL/POPS” HENDERSON
(SEPTEMBER 10, 1923- APRIL 15,2024)
Alden Fay “Bill/Pops” Henderson, age 100, a resident of Naperville, Il, died April 15. 2024, at Harbor Chase in Naperville, Illinois. He was quickly received into Heaven to be with His Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was born into this world September 10, 1923 in Fairview, West Virginia to Lewis & Hilda (Tennant) Henderson.
He served in the US Army during World War II in the Pacific as a medical technician, sort of like a popular TV program M.A.S.H. He almost died twice, via rip tide and via shrapnel, but survived victoriously and went on to WV University in Morgantown, WV, where he met his wife of 58 years, Betty, and later received his B.A and M.A degrees. He eventually worked as a principal in Eastland and Grandmont Elementary Schools in Roseville, Michigan (northern suburb of Detroit) for many years before moving to Orlando and then to Illinois, always with the motive to be ‘closer to family’.
Pops and Betty came to know Christ as their Lord and Savior during the first Billy Graham Crusade on television in November 1956 and Bill went on to be a long serving elder/deacon in Calvary Baptist Church of Roseville. Pops and his wife retired early to be with his older brother, Sam’s family, and older sister, Mabel’s family, in Orlando as Pops served as a teacher in the private school sponsored by Orlando Baptist Church. Later, the oved to Naperville in Illinois to care for the Henderson and Wiersema grandchildren that came into existence over the next 20 years. They had a profound impact on their grandchildren, supporting their parents, in surrounding them with nurture and admonition in the Lord. They helped to support and sustain the youth ministry founded by their son, John called Salt Co., out of Youth for Christ that had an impact locally and nationally. They also helped to found Ginger Creek Community Church along with his daughter Jane Wiersema, where his son, John, was the founding pastor. The church went on to merge with AllNations/Aurora to form Purpose City Church, a multi-cultural/multi-ethnic community still serving the western suburb of Chicago.
They called him ‘golden arm’ in the Army as he had an uncanny capacity to pitch a softball. He played in the Ginger Creek Community Church community softball league of 24 teams that served the entire western suburbs, and was famous as the best pitcher in the league to the age of 72, in an age 19 and above league. As a principal he was known for always playing softball with the kids, pitching to them at recess, even pitching to a blind kid who he made happy by always making the ball hit his outreached bat over the plate! G.O.A.T, he was!
He is survived by his two children: John Henderson of Naperville and Jane (Steve) Wiersema of Warrenville; seven grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren:
John and Karen (Elliot) Henderson family: one son, Zac and four daughters, Gabrielle, Tara, Brooke, & Rikki; and 17 grandchildren Zac (Taylor) Henderson: Luke, Wyatt, & Norah Henderson
Gabrielle (Brad) Lichtenheld: Gwendolyn, Sloane, Zoe, & Mack Lichtenheld
Tara (David) Dethmers: Avery, Posey, Jovi, & Henderson/ “Sonny” Dethmers
Brooke (Peter) Stoepker: Liam, Everette, & Elliot (Ellie) Stoepker
Rikki (Keegan) Aguilera: Kingston, Mila, & Makenna Aguilera
Steve and Jane Wiersema family: two daughters Kellie Wiersema & Michelle Wiersema
Also survived by many nieces & nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean (Davis) Henderson; his brothers & sisters: Victor “Jack”, Virgil “Sam”, Mahlon “Red”, Mildred “Midge” Walker, Mabel Tennant, and Nell Henderson
A graveside service will be held at the St. Luke Cemetery at Mooresville on Sunday, April 28, 2024 at 1:00 PM with Pastors Rob and Joyce Bennett officiating. Interment will follow in the St. Luke Cemetery. The Westover VWF Post will perform military graveside honors with the assistance of personnel from Camp Dawson.