James William Henderson

January 3, 1931 – November 28, 2024

Jim was born to Elizabeth (nee Kennedy) and Percy Henderson in Riverdale Hospital, Toronto, and grew up on Avalon Blvd in the Birchcliff area of Scarborough, youngest in the family of three sisters, Betty, Ruth, and Doris. He attended Birchcliff Public School and R H King Collegiate, followed by Dominion Business College, Toronto.

As a teenager, with his good friend V Al "Pat" Moore, Jim worked at Comrie Lumber. Being athletic, Jim played baseball in Kew Beach Park, and hockey for Fallingbrook Furniture. Fun times included road hockey with neighbour Bobby Baun, future star of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

In 1953, Jim married Nora Edna Whitehead of the Beach. Jim's hockey abilities were put to use as a Junior A referee of the Ontario Hockey League. As a young man, Jim worked at Algoma Steel, Frigidaire, then Samuel & Son Steel, Toronto. When Samuels moved their company to Mississauga, Jim and Nora moved their young family of three children – Marianne, Nancy and David – to Port Credit. As a volunteer with the Orchard Heights Home & School Association, Jim was one of the men making and keeping the ice of two outdoor rinks there every winter.

Working at Stanley Steel Company, later to become Cold Metal Products of Arcelor Metals, as Manager of the Steel Service Centre in Hamilton, where he enjoyed the friendship and humour of Gerry McKinnell, Jim, Nora and family moved to Oakville.

Changing their memberships from St Andrew's Memorial Presbyterian Church, Port Credit to Knox Presbyterian Church, Oakville, Jim served faithfully as an Elder and member of the collection team. Still involved with local hockey teams, Jim acted as General Manager and Coach, in his spare time, and also enjoyed time spent at the cottage in Haliburton and at Nora's family cottage in South River, Ontario.

After Jim's retirement, he and Nora moved to Delmanor Glen Abbey retirement residence. Sadly, Nora passed away in February, 2023. Jim is survived by his three children – Marianne Henderson, Nancy (Lance) Stevens, and David Henderson; his two grandsons, Ryan (Megan) and Tyler (Kelly) Stevens; his granddaughter Samantha Henderson-Whaley; and his four great grandchildren – Harper, Miles, Leo and Charlotte Stevens.

A service of remembrance will be held on Saturday, April 12th at 11:00AM at Knox Presbyterian Church, 89 Dunn St, Oakville, with reception to follow.

We give thanks to God for the life of James William Henderson.