Bernard Lee Henderson Jr.

Bernard "Lee" Henderson Jr. lived 96 years filled with family, adventure, service, and more than a few good stories. From the very beginning, Lee had plenty of personality and more than a little love for the spotlight. He was born at home on March 29, 1930, arriving before the doctor could even get there, much to the delight of his parents, Bertha and Bernard Lee Henderson Sr. It was a fitting entrance for a man with a quick wit, a lively spirit, and a way of making life more interesting for those around him.

Lee spent much of his childhood helping his father on their boat in Galveston, where he developed a lifelong love of hunting, fishing, and the outdoors. Those early days with his father began traditions he would later share with his own children and grandchildren. Lee graduated from Milby High School in 1949 and attended the University of Houston on an academic scholarship, studying mechanical engineering.

In 1950, Lee joined the National Guard before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War. He served with the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, in Korea from 1951 to 1952 and was later stationed at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. He remained in the Marine Corps until July 30, 1954, reaching the rank of Sergeant Major. Lee carried great pride in being a Marine throughout his life and rarely missed an opportunity to share a story from his time in the service.

Just a few months after returning home, Lee met the love of his life, Charlotte Ann Schnaak. Friends arranged for the two to meet on a blind date at a high school football game in November 1954. There was just one small complication: Charlotte was already seeing another young man who was away serving at the time.

Then she met Lee.

With his charm, quick wit, and gift for making people laugh, Lee made quite an impression. Charlotte knew almost immediately that he was the one. Before long, a “Dear John” letter was on its way. Less than six months after their first date, Lee and Charlotte were married on May 21, 1955. What began at a high school football game became 71 years of marriage, five children, 10 grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and a lifetime built together.

Family was at the heart of Lee’s life. He was the kind of father and grandfather who did more than show up. He got everyone there. For years, Lee did much of the driving and shuttling for his children and grandchildren, making sure they got to ball games and practices, band and choir concerts, Boy Scout activities, FFA projects, and countless other events. He and Charlotte also helped care for their granddaughters and great-granddaughter while their parents worked and attended school. Even as he grew older, Lee continued stepping in whenever his family needed him.

He served as Scoutmaster for his sons’ Boy Scout troops and helped his son and grandson raise steers, turkeys, and pigs through the FFA. Lee also purchased property in East Texas, where he and his sons built a hunting cabin. Affectionately known as “Henderson’s Little Thicket,” the cabin in the woods became a favorite gathering place for the family, filled with hunting trips, stories, laughter, and memories that will be shared for generations.

Lee retired in 1992 after a 30-year career with Oxirane Chemical Company, later known as ARCO Chemical and LyondellBasell. Retirement, however, did not slow him down.

Lee remained active with the Texas Lone Star Chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA), where he held several positions. For more than 20 years, he and Charlotte worked alongside two other couples to publish the chapter newsletter, The Warrior. He participated in St. Patrick’s Day parades through downtown Houston, with his grandchildren proudly carrying the KWVA banner. Each November, he and fellow members visited the VA Hospital to distribute socks to hospitalized veterans.

Of all his work with the KWVA, Lee treasured his role in the Tell America Program most. Alongside fellow Korean War veterans, he visited more than 150 Houston-area schools, sharing his experiences and helping students understand the history and human cost of the Korean War. He took great pride in teaching a new generation about the sacrifices made by those who served, but Lee also knew how to keep an audience entertained. He loved making the students laugh, often surprising them with a dummy hand grenade and listening to them squeal when he told stories about the body lice he and his fellow Marines battled during the war.

Lee departed this world for his eternal rest on August 4, 2026, leaving behind a slightly quieter house and a family who will miss his unmistakable presence more than words can say. Even in their sadness, they are grateful for 96 years of laughter, love, adventure, and stories, many of which Lee probably told more than once and somehow still made worth hearing.

Lee was preceded in death by his parents, Bernard and Bertha Henderson, and his sisters, Betty Jane Cox and Doris Jean Sills.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Charlotte Ann Henderson; his children, Richard Lee Henderson, Michael Ray Henderson, Debra Kay Shannon (Glen Hosmer), Katherine Ann Burgamy, and Charles Edward (Amy Lynn) Henderson; his grandchildren, David Henderson, Randell Shannon, Rachel Shannon, Amy Shannon, Heather Henderson, Travis Henderson, Rebecca Burgamy, Crystal Henderson, Gretchen Henderson, and Carol Ann Henderson; and his great-grandchildren, Caydence, Kylie, Keira, Dylan, and Chloe.

Visitation will be held Wednesday, August 12, 2026, at Forest Park Lawndale Funeral Home and Cemetery, Colonial Chapel. Family visitation begins at 4:00 p.m., with public visitation from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 13, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. at the same location, with committal following at 1:30 p.m. at Houston National Cemetery.