Obituary for David Wiley Henry
David Wiley Henry, 90, of Franklin passed away January 2, 2021.
Preceding Mr. Henry in death were his parents Robert and Laura Williams Henry, brothers;
Walter Henry, and John C. Henry, sisters, Edna Roberts, and Kathleen Woody,
also grandson David Henry.
Mr. Henry was a veteran of the Vietnam and Korean Wars where he served as a
Combat engineer. He was awarded with two Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.
Mr. Henry entered the U.S. Army in April 1948 completing basic training at
Fort Jackson, SC. He earned jump wings glider wings. He was assigned to
Combat Engineers with the 82nd Airborne and at Fort Bragg, NC. In 1956 he was sent to
Germany where he taught map reading and bridge building. There he completed NCO
Academy and atomic demolition school. He was reassigned to the 101st Airborne at
Fort Campbell, KY where he was on the All- American Pistol Team, completed Chemical,
Biological and Radiological school. Reassigned to Korea, David then was assigned to
Combat Engineers tasked with building air strips, roads, bridges and clearing mine fields.
After returning to Fort Benning from Korea, he was sent to Vietnam on Special Operations
with Combat Engineers. He was wounded three times and awarded the Purple Heart and
Bronze Star. After serving in Vietnam, he was sent to Charlotte NC as an advisor to a reserve
Unit. He notified next-of-kin of Service member losses and Missing-in action soldiers. He
retired with 21 years of military service. Mr. Henry’s numerous military awards include:
Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct medal (8th award),
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star, Vietnam Service Medal,
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device (1960), Expert badge with
carbine bar with rifle bar, Glider Badge, and Parachutist badge (basic). After retiring from
the military David lived in Franklin and worked in construction. He was a member of the
Masonic Lodge in Columbus, GA. He attended Sugarfork Baptist Church where he was a deacon.
Surviving Mr. Henry are his wife, Freida Pauline Mason Henry of Franklin, children;
Carolyn (Bill) Bonner of Davie, FL, Saundra Henry and Janet (Tony) Shuler both of Franklin.
Sisters; Hattie Moffitt and Ann Green of Franklin, also Betty McKelvey of Atlanta GA. Brothers;
Bob Henry of Asheville NC and Billy Henry of Tuckaseegee NC. Three grandchildren; Mason Bonner
Matthew Bonner, and Austin Shuler. Two great grandchildren; Dana Henry and Stetson Shuler.
Three great-great grandchildren; Zoeie, Jacse, and Kristopher.
A graveside service will be held Wednesday, January 6 at 2 PM at Sugarfork Baptist Cemetery
with the Rev. Gene Hawkins officiating. The family will have a celebration of life at a later date.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions the family requests that masks be worn and social distancing guidelines be followed.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Teen Challenge of the Smokies.
336 Living Hope Way, Franklin, NC 28734
Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Online condolences to the family can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com
Preceding Mr. Henry in death were his parents Robert and Laura Williams Henry, brothers;
Walter Henry, and John C. Henry, sisters, Edna Roberts, and Kathleen Woody,
also grandson David Henry.
Mr. Henry was a veteran of the Vietnam and Korean Wars where he served as a
Combat engineer. He was awarded with two Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.
Mr. Henry entered the U.S. Army in April 1948 completing basic training at
Fort Jackson, SC. He earned jump wings glider wings. He was assigned to
Combat Engineers with the 82nd Airborne and at Fort Bragg, NC. In 1956 he was sent to
Germany where he taught map reading and bridge building. There he completed NCO
Academy and atomic demolition school. He was reassigned to the 101st Airborne at
Fort Campbell, KY where he was on the All- American Pistol Team, completed Chemical,
Biological and Radiological school. Reassigned to Korea, David then was assigned to
Combat Engineers tasked with building air strips, roads, bridges and clearing mine fields.
After returning to Fort Benning from Korea, he was sent to Vietnam on Special Operations
with Combat Engineers. He was wounded three times and awarded the Purple Heart and
Bronze Star. After serving in Vietnam, he was sent to Charlotte NC as an advisor to a reserve
Unit. He notified next-of-kin of Service member losses and Missing-in action soldiers. He
retired with 21 years of military service. Mr. Henry’s numerous military awards include:
Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct medal (8th award),
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star, Vietnam Service Medal,
Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device (1960), Expert badge with
carbine bar with rifle bar, Glider Badge, and Parachutist badge (basic). After retiring from
the military David lived in Franklin and worked in construction. He was a member of the
Masonic Lodge in Columbus, GA. He attended Sugarfork Baptist Church where he was a deacon.
Surviving Mr. Henry are his wife, Freida Pauline Mason Henry of Franklin, children;
Carolyn (Bill) Bonner of Davie, FL, Saundra Henry and Janet (Tony) Shuler both of Franklin.
Sisters; Hattie Moffitt and Ann Green of Franklin, also Betty McKelvey of Atlanta GA. Brothers;
Bob Henry of Asheville NC and Billy Henry of Tuckaseegee NC. Three grandchildren; Mason Bonner
Matthew Bonner, and Austin Shuler. Two great grandchildren; Dana Henry and Stetson Shuler.
Three great-great grandchildren; Zoeie, Jacse, and Kristopher.
A graveside service will be held Wednesday, January 6 at 2 PM at Sugarfork Baptist Cemetery
with the Rev. Gene Hawkins officiating. The family will have a celebration of life at a later date.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions the family requests that masks be worn and social distancing guidelines be followed.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Teen Challenge of the Smokies.
336 Living Hope Way, Franklin, NC 28734
Macon Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Online condolences to the family can be made at www.maconfuneralhome.com