Mildred Henson

Mildred Mae (Erickson) Henson, 86 year old longtime Seminole County resident, passed from this life on June 11, 2016 at her home in Wewoka, Oklahoma.  She was born May 21, 1930 in Westville, Oklahoma to parents, Maud Esther (Ennis) Erickson and Walter Oscar Erickson. Mildred graduated from Westville High School in 1948.  She went on to attend college earning her business education degree. Mildred then enlisted in the United States Air Force where she served as a Technical Specialist.  She helped to put the first computer systems in the United States Pentagon.  Mildred earned the rank of Staff Sergeant and had served during the Korean War.  Following her Honorable discharge in 1955, Mildred met a man by the name of Melvin “Don” Henson Sr. to who she would marry on July 12, 1959 in Westville, Oklahoma. Mildred then went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Education from East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma. Mildred taught at Varnum Public Schools for two years, and then at New Lima Public Schools for 28 years teaching home economics and social studies.  Her husband Don Henson also taught at New Lima Public Schools.  Following the couple's retirement, they were not the type to sit and watch television, so they began an abandon pet refuge that they self-funded, raising 50 plus animals at a time.  They would buy hundreds of pounds of feed at a time.  Dr. James Kuhn was their veterinarian who helped oversee the pets’ well-being. Mildred was a member of the Retired Teachers Association, Sunshine Workers, and she attended the First Christian Church in Seminole. Mildred leaves to cherish her memories, two sons; Dee and Denise Henson of Wewoka, Oklahoma, John and Vicki Henson of Seminole, Oklahoma; one sister, Phyllis Griffin and her husband David of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; 2 brothers, Beauford Jones and his wife Winnie Kansas City, Missouri, Marion Jones and his wife Gaylene of Wichita, Kansas; 7 grandchildren, Don Henson, Dugan Henson, Levi Henson, Mandi Winlock, Scott Winlock Jr., Nathan Winlock, and Jeremey Winlock; several great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and a host of other family and dear friends. Mildred is preceded in death by her parents, Maud Esther (Ennis) Erickson, and Walter Oscar Erickson; her husband of 30 years, Melvin “Don” Henson Sr. who died February 27, 1989; by two sisters and brother-in-law, Alene and Andy Neeley, Ruby and Alan Bourque; by one brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Margie Erickson; 2 sisters-in-law, Ida Mae Presley, Wanona Pinkard; 4 brothers-in-law, Aaron "A.C" Henson, Doyle Henson, Clell Henson, and Fervan Henson. Funeral services are scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at Swearingen Funeral Home Chapel in Seminole, Oklahoma with Military Honors at Little Cemetery. Glenn Pence will officiate the service. Casket Bearers will be: Donald Poplin, Tony Hill, Dr. James Kuhn, Kim Edwards, Todd Kern, and Gil Turpin. Services are under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home in Seminole, Oklahoma. Funeral Information: June 15, 2016, 1:00 PM Swearingen Funeral Home located at 1001 N. Milt Phillips Ave., Seminole, OK 74868