Charles Perry Henness

Charles “Chuck” Perry Henness, 97, passed away July 4, 2024, in Kansas City, KS, He was born October 17, 1926, on a farm outside Fontana, KS to Frederick Perry and Lucile Ivalah (Fry) Henness. Chuck grew up in Fontana, but moved to Kansas City, KS in the early 1940s and graduated from Argentine High School in 1945. He attended Ottawa University, in Ottawa, KS, in 1948- 1950, where he met Naomi (Ruth) Henderson, his future wife, whom he married on May 30, 1950. Chuck was a loving husband and father, who had a love of animals, travel and nature. He took his family on many local camping trips, as well as trips all over the USA visiting numerous National Parks & Monuments, Mexico, and Canada. His children treated Chuck and Ruth to an Alaskan cruise for their 50 th wedding anniversary, a place he’d always wanted to see. Chuck and Ruth were members of Ruby Avenue Baptist Church at 12 th and Ruby Ave in KCKS from the early 1950s until it closed in the early 2000s. Chuck served as a church deacon for many of those years. They attended Maple Hill Baptist Church until they moved into assisted living in 2016. Chuck was a Boy Scout leader in the 1960s and 1970s with Troop 29 in Kansas City, KS, enjoying working with young men and going camping and trips with the troop. Chuck worked as a Carman for KC Terminal Railway initially in the 1950s to early 60s, before working as a boilermaker, first on power plant work in Sibley, MO and in Chicago, IL. Then installation, repair and welder for a few years for Atlas Boiler & Welding, He then owned his own HVAC and boiler company for many years, before returning to work for KC Terminal in his later years until his retirement. Chuck lived the last seven years at The Piper in Kansas City, KS, where the nurses and staff said he was a favorite due to his welcoming smile and upbeat attitude. Chuck was proceeded in death by his wife of 67 years, Ruth Henness; both his parents and stepmother, Eltha Gardner Henness; daughter, Catherine Ruth Henness; grandson, Joshua Perry Henness; and two sisters, Virginia Henness and Mildred Adamson. He is survived by one sister, Helen Hayward of Kansas City, KS; his children Cynthia (Gary) Palmer of Eudora, KS, Steven Perry (Karen) Henness of Linwood, KS, Timothy Henness of Newport News, VA, David (Laura) Henness of Joplin, MO, Mary (Don) Kilgore of Independence, MO, and Martha (Richard) Lindsay of Kansas City, KS; 12 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and 3 great great grandchildren.

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Charles Perry Henness

October 17, 1926 - July 4, 2024