Burton Louis Henry passed away peacefully on January 1, 2014 in the presence of family members at Village View Farm, his home in Beach Lake, PA. He was 90.

Burt was born October 13, 1923 in Brooklyn, NY, the son of the late Irene Augusta (Volkland) and Cecil Boughton Henry. He was educated in the public schools of Brooklyn. He married the love of his life, Doris Frey Henry, on September 13, 1947 and they established their permanent home in Beach Lake. They recently celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his sister, Irene (Henry) Tomasiello of Citrus Springs FL; his sister-in-law Ruth (Ronnback) Henry; three sons, Richard Henry and wife Susan Rickard-Henry, Alan Henry and wife Karen Carlson, Paul Henry and wife Karen Saunders Henry; daughter Carol Henry Dunn and husband Bill Dunn, all of Beach Lake; eight grandchildren, Dr. Alana (Henry) Rickard and husband Bart Rickard, Dylan Henry, Lucie Henry, Dorie Henry, MacKenzie Henry, Billie Jo Dunn-Fenwick, Carl Dunn and Jessie (Dunn) Heimbach; eight great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Russell F. Henry of Arizona.

Burt was a wonderful husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle and will be deeply missed. He had a great sense of humor and especially enjoyed playing and joking with his grandchildren.

From the day Burt became a Wayne County resident in 1952, he became involved in the life of his community and was a member of many service organizations. He was a life member of the Volunteer Fire Company of Beach Lake and since the early 1950s served that organization in many positions, including fire company president and fire police captain. To help in fundraising he was the “voice,” the announcer, for the VanGorder Speedway in Beach Lake, where local car racing enthusiasts gathered from 1953 to 1963 every Saturday night in the summer. Proceeds from the racing helped the fire company pay the mortgage on their fire hall. As a testament to Burt’s community involvement, all of his children have also served with the fire company for many years.

Burt was a long-standing member of the Masonic Lodge in Honesdale.

Burt loved sports, and was involved in many sports teams as a participant, organizer, announcer, coach and referee. He was a registered basketball official from 1964 through 1976 with PIAA and IAABO and refereed for many local basketball organizations. When his children were young, he worked to provide opportunities where young people could learn and excel in local sports, including little league baseball. For these contributions to local sports, Burt was elected to the Wayne Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2005.

Burt enjoyed working, and had many careers in his long life. He was employed in the car industry at Wayne County Ford, Boyd Brothers Lincoln Mercury, and Eddie Narvid Oldsmobile; he worked with the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department where he helped to establish the work-release program so inmates could perform community service for non-profit organizations; he was a bailiff at the Wayne County Courthouse; and he was a self-taught master carpenter and cabinetmaker. In his retirement he worked tirelessly each day in his extensive woodworking shop until his recent illness.

Burt’s family extends sincere thanks to the staff of Wayne Memorial Hospital Home Health Services and Wayne Memorial Hospice who so ably provided compassionate home care.

Memorial contributions can be sent to the Volunteer Fire Company of Beach Lake or the Beach Lake United Methodist Church.

A private memorial service and interment service will be held at the convenience of the family.