Burton Henderson

Burton Henderson (LCDR, U.S. Navy, Ret.) of Morrilton, passed away on June 23, 2016. He was born on Nov. 5, 1928 in San Pedro, Calif. His parents were Fredric Orin Henderson and Irene Estelle (Neal) Henderson. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Bettye J. (Montgomery) Henderson, and his parents. Survivors are his daughters Elizabeth Ann Powell (Richard Wayne), Little Rock, AR, Susan Neal Henderson, Morrilton, AR, and Caroline Blythe Taylor (Douglas Wayne), Arkadelphia, AR; and two grandchildren, McKenna Grace Taylor and Madeline Rose Taylor. He was a Christian of the Methodist faith. Burt joined the U.S. Navy during his senior year in high school, went to the University of California at Berkley for 2 years, then to Naval Flight School in Pensacola, Florida. He received his Naval Aviator Wings in 1947. While in the service, he received his Bachelor of Science degree at the United States Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He received a Master of Education Degree in 1972 from Florida Atlantic University. He served honorably as a Naval Officer for 24 years and retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 1968. His tours of duty included Hawaii, Japan, Alaska, Professor at the United States Naval Academy, Iceland, and San Diego, California. On return to civilian life, he served on the faculty of Miami-Dade Community College, and later the University of Arkansas at Little Rock where he was an Associate Professor in Engineering Technology. He obtained the designation of Professional Engineer in Florida, and later in Arkansas. He retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1989 and was honored with Professor Emeritus status. He conducted a $5 million research project for the Department of Energy. He obtained an Arkansas Real Estate Brokers License and was a co-founder, executive broker, and Director of Technology of Petit Jean Properties, Inc. in Morrilton, AR until his death. He was a Commissioner on the Arkansas Fair Housing Commission, a member of the American Heating and Air Conditioning Society, Life Member of the Arkansas Realtors Association and recipient of their Distinguished Service Award, Chairman of the Morrilton Waste Water Commission, member of the Morrilton Rotary Club, past president of the Petit Jean Mt. Cemetery Association, past president of the Conway/Perry Counties Realtors Association, co-founder and past president of the Petit Jean Mountain Community Association, and a member of the Methodist Men Prayer Breakfast Group. He always considered his greatest blessing to be his marriage to his beautiful wife, Bettye. Their life together, their three daughters and the men in their lives, and their two grand- daughters were the joys of his life. Visitation will be held Sunday, June 26th, from 6-8 pm at Harris Funeral Home in Morrilton, Arkansas. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, June 27th at the First United Methodist Church in Morrilton, followed by burial at the Petit Jean Mt. Cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Petit Jean Cemetery Perpetual Care Fund if desired.

Burton Henderson

November 5, 1928 - June 23, 2016