Henry Clay Church's Obituary
Mr. Henry Clay Church was a fighter. As a young man in Kansas City, Missouri he had success in fighting in the Golden Gloves tournament. Not long afterwards he enlisted in the Navy, and fought in World War II. His squadron received the Navy Unit Commendation for Outstanding Performance of Duty in Combat with the Air Force Atlantic Fleet, 1943 � 1944. Then the squadron fought in the Pacific for ten months before returning stateside for leave and reassignment. During this time eighteen German and Japanese submarines were attacked, with eight sunk and six badly damaged.
After the War, he began a Civil Service career at the Naval Air Station in Jacksonville, Florida where he now fought a different kind of battle- career apathy was the enemy. He immediately began a variety of courses to improve his aircraft maintenance skills. A few years later he began a series of Supervision courses. Later, he undertook a number of Middle Management Courses. It was during this era when he fought a battle of integrity. One of his employees made a mistake on the President's aircraft. While it meant only a slight delay, his boss demanded this employee be fired. Henry Clay Church refused, saying this man was a dedicated and effective worker. For some time thereafter he had to "watch his back" � least he be fired. After thirty years civil service he retired.
Perhaps his greatest fight occurred in 2005 when he entered the hospital for congestive heart failure and double pneumonia. At 84 he required thirteen weeks to beat these illnesses, but he did. No doubt, part of his drive was to return home to care for his wife, Frances Myrtle Hooper Church. In late January of this year he began his longest and final flight, one including a series of rallies and setbacks. With his wife having died in late 2006, his motivation may have wavered, but then again maybe not. Going to join his wife of 59 years can be looked at as a victory � not a defeat.
Henry Clay Church was 87 years young. He is survived by two sisters, Leora Durkee of Laramie, Wyoming and Pauline Pratt of Charlotte, NC. Of his two children, only Fred Church survives, Frank Church died in 2005. His four grandchildren are Michael Church, Sean Church, David Church and Rebecca Church.
Henry Clay Church will be missed, but the lessons he taught his sons and grandchildren live on.
The funeral service will be conducted in West Point Baptist Church, Wednesday July 9, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. The Rev. Blair Bridle will officiate. Entombment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at Lady's Funeral Home from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Memorials for Mr. Church may be made to West Point Baptist Church, 1100 Pine Street, Kannapolis, NC. 28081.
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