Walter E “Gene” Henry
MOSSAR President
Walter E. (Gene) Henry
Gene Henry was born in Windsor, Missouri on December 8, 1948, and attended elementary and high school in Windsor, graduating in 1966. He then attended Central Missouri State College (now University of Central Missouri), graduating in 1970 with a BS in Education.
He is married to Marilynn Paulette (Taylor), and they have three daughters, Rebecca Grace Tilton, Jana Elizabeth Funderburk, and Susanna Jean Freeman. They also have 1 granddaughter and 5 grandsons.
Following college graduation and commissioning in the U.S. Army through the ROTC program in 1970, Gene taught junior high history, while participating in the Missouri Army National Guard. Three years later, Gene transitioned into the banking business, and continued in it for 40 years. His National Guard career spanned 28 years, ending in retirement in 1998 as a Lieutenant Colonel.
Perhaps the highlights of Gene’s military career were being the firing unit commander of 6 105MM howitzers that fired the 21 gun military salutes for former President Harry Truman’s funeral in 1972; and commanding the 1st Battalion, 128 Field Artillery. His military education included the Army Command and General Staff Course, in addition to numerous schools.
Gene has been very active in volunteer service in each community in which he and his family have lived. Service organizations include Lions Club, Jaycees, Optimist Club, Whiteman AFB Community Council, Windsor High School Master Endowment Scholarship Fund, Truman Chapter of the U.S. Field Artillery Association, Henry County Cancer Golf Tournament Committee, Windsor and Clinton Chambers of Commerce, Olde Glory Days Finance Committee, pastor selection committees, and finance committees.
Gene officiated football, basketball and volleyball at the high school level for many years, retiring with 35 years of service.
He has served the Martin Warren Chapter as Historian, Vice President and President. He was elected as President of the Missouri SAR on April 27, 2024 and will continue in that role until April 26, 2025. Marilynn was elected as President of the Missouri SAR Auxiliary the same day for the same time frame. She is an excellent genealogist, having served in a variety of offices for the Missouri Society, Daughters of the American Revolution.