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Richard "Dick"
Earl Henson
January 17, 1936 – June 29, 2022
Richard ("Dick") Earl Henson passed away June 29, 2022 at his home in Middletown, DE at the age of 86. He was born January 17, 1936 in Philadelphia, PA to Arthur and Elizabeth (Leach) Henson. He attended Central High School before moving to Rising Sun, DE where he graduated from Caesar Rodney High School as a multi-sport athlete in basketball and track.
After graduation, Dick attended the University of Delaware on full scholarship in basketball. He said that the reason for the full-ride was because he was the perfect "stunt dummy" to work out Dallas Green at basketball. He became President of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity during his time there. Also, while at U of D, he heard about a "new girl working at one of the Ag. Hall labs that he should go meet". He said he laid his eyes on Janet Elaine Jamison and he was hooked. The Berlin Crisis took him away from Janet and U. of D. as he began his stint with the Delaware Army National Guard. He was stationed with a helicopter unit outside of DC and became friends with a helicopter pilot so that he could fly home to be with Janet on the weekends. They were married on December 19, 1959 in Newark.
After the military, Dick went to work with Dupont in 1960 and returned to college graduating with a degree from Hillsdale College. Dick spent 32 years with Dupont mostly in the Human Resources/Relocation Department retiring in 1990. One of his proudest moments was when he rode the elevator up to his office with his dad and the then president of DuPont who told Dick's dad that he "didn't know how the company worked without Henson".
Dick and Janet settled into Newark and had Dirk ("DT") Henson on February 12, 1963. He was the love of their lives and Janet enjoyed being able to stay home and raise "her boy". As a family they enjoyed camping in their various campers throughout the years. They tragically lost DT on January 8, 1981. They ended up moving from Newark to Middletown in 1986 where they enjoyed all of their various critters in Hensonville. They also enjoyed hearing from DT's friends and being a part of their family's lives.
In 2000, niece, Janna Jamison, brought their first "grandchild", Jaeda Whitney Jamison, into the world. This blessed event was followed two years later by the birth of their second and third "grandchildren", twins Bryan Craig and Bayli Jocelynne Blomquist, by niece Jodi Blomquist and her husband, Bryan. They became "PopPop Click-Click and MomMom Precious" to them and enjoyed sharing in their lives.
Janet passed away in March of 2015 and Click-Click (or "Uncle" as he was called by Jodi) began to explore. He never missed a single game of the twins at Bear Babe Ruth and enjoyed being fussed over by the many board members and parents. He even received a trophy for being the most "dedicated grandfather". He frequented the Middletown and New Castle Farmers Markets as well as any of the closest McDonald's. Mondays were spent at the Jamison's with his brother-in-law, Jerry, talking the afternoon away. Weekends were spent at the Blomquist's supervising, along with Jerry (aka "Waldorf and Statler" from the Muppets), whatever project poor Bryan was completing that day. Mostly, though he would visit his beloved wife and son where he did a beautiful job tending to the cemetery and talking away to Janet.
Dick is pre-deceased by his parents, beloved wife and son. He is also pre-deceased by his mother-in-law, Jocelyn Jamison, who resided with them for many years. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his brother-in-law, Jerry Jamison, niece Janna Jamison, niece Jodi Blomquist and her husband, Bryan, "grandchildren" Jaeda Jamison, Bryan Blomquist Jr., and Bayli Blomquist. He also leaves behind neighbors who became family, Jason and Christine Pinder who the family wishes to thank from the bottom of their hearts for their love and care for Dick in his final years.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, July 16 th , at 11 am at Christiana Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 15 N. Baltimore Pike Newark DE (in Old Christiana).
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Faithful Friends in the name of Jodi Blomquist for the dedication of a dog suite for their new shelter in Dick and Janet Henson's memory as their love for animals was so great.
To leave an online condolence, please click the tab marked "Guestbook".
Arrangements are by Matthews-Bryson Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Smyrna.
Christiana Presbyterian Church Cemetery
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