He was an avid Oakland Raiders fan and will be buried with his team’s blanket at his feet.

Henry was proud of the opportunities he and Lucille provided to their family. Their oldest daughter Stacy Knust and youngest son Joey followed Henry’s career path into the Postal Service. While son Henry is a news editor in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

“I can see him sitting on the couch,” said Lucille. “He’d say ‘What can I help you with? So you can come sit down with me.’”

Henry and Lucille grew up together in Cucamonga - where their parents were friends. The married following his return from Vietnam in 1968. The couple’s happiest moment was in 1970 when they brought their first child Stacy from the hospital while Henry played on the car radio The Carpenters’ “We’ve only just begun.”

“I thought to myself, ‘Wow, he’s so romantic, it’s what I always wanted,’” said Lucille. Stacy has two children, Rachel and Andrew - Henry and Lucille’s first grandchildren.

He coached youth sports and enjoyed spending time with children.

Henry’s mother Connie said he was reserved as a boy and serious as a man with a warm sense of humor and drive to take care of his loved ones. She says she will dream of him as she does her deceased son Anthony and husband Tony.

Henry is survived by wife Lucille; sons Henry and Joey; Henry’s fiancee Kristin Carmichael; daughter Stacy Knust and husband Steve; grandchildren Rachel and Andrew; brothers David and Mondo; sister Virginia Ornelas; mother Connie. He follows into death his youngest brother Anthony and father Tony.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Wednesday Jan. 30 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Cucamonga with burial services to follow at Bellevue Memorial Cemetery.

Published:
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin,
Wednesday, January 30, 2008