Marlin W. Henry, 91

March 22, 2018

Marlin W. Henry, 91 of Lancaster passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at Homestead Village. Born in Lebanon, Pa, he was the son of the late Marlin I. Henry and Dorothy M. (Price) Henry. Marlin was married for 70 years to his lifelong girlfriend and love, Arlene (Lahr) Henry.

During his youth, Marlin served in the Navy during World War II as a 17-year-old responding to the call of the greatest generation. He served distinguishably aboard a submarine chaser in many of the major invasions in the South Pacific for three years. Marlin would recount the moment while on lookout up in the crow’s nest when he received a letter from his mother saying his father had also joined the Navy at age 36; father and son served together in the Pacific, and his mother was fit to be tied. Upon his return from war Marlin completed high school and received his degree from the former Lancaster Business School. Marlin was a 32 Degree Mason and a lifelong member of the Lancaster County Shrine Club Oriental Band.

Following his first retirement and sale of his business, Henrys Foods Distributors in 1989, Marlin was a Bailiff for the Lancaster County Courts for 18 years. He was an ardent distance walker even into his late eighty’s and would often recount to family and friends the health benefits of such efforts and attributed his long and healthy life to this passion. He craved being outdoors, and loved to walk in the forests of the mountains or sit in the middle of a favorite apple orchard or by a stream just enjoying wildlife and nature. He would use the excuse he was going deer hunting, but confided in later years he never really cared to kill a deer, but just wanted to be one with his love of nature.

Have you ever known just a simply wonderful human being? Marlin would treat everyone in life equally; he brought out the good in people he encountered and there was something wonderful about this man to imitate. The world is just a little less of a place without him in it.
In addition to his wife Arlene, Marlin is survived by two daughters, Deborah A. Williams, wife of Thomas of Dillsburg Pa, and Linda L McGinn, wife of Daniel of Lancaster Pa. Also surviving are three grandchildren, Sean P. McGinn, Kaitlin A. McGinn, and Maren K. McGinn; one great-grandchild, Kieran P McGinn; and two sisters, Charlene (Henry) Lentz of Lancaster, and Harriet (Henry) Needleman of Las Vegas Nevada. In addition to his parents, He was predeceased by a brother, Richard henry, and a sister, Esther Henry Jarrett.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service which will be held on Friday, March 30, 2018, at 12:00 PM at the Bachman Center at Homestead Village, 633 Community Way, Lancaster, PA. 17603, where the family will begin receiving guests at 11:00 AM. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Marlin’s memory may be offered to the Salvation Army, 131 South Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.