Retired Col. James J. Henry, whose work helped advance both military and civilian communications in his nearly three-decade career in the U.S. Army, died March 17, 2022. He was 81.
A Tinton Falls resident, Jim served in the Signal Corps and specialized in satellite communications. He traveled the world testing the Navstar precursor to GPS technology for the Army before its release to the public. In his 28-year Army career, Jim served two tours of duty in Vietnam, graduated from the Army War College, and worked for the Army Chief of Staff in the Pentagon. Following his Army career, Jim helped establish communications systems in Iraq in the early 2000s and worked on the technology-enhanced Land Warrior system for infantry soldiers.
Jim enjoyed every minute of his time in the Army and always had an interesting story to tell his grandchildren, who affectionally called him “Gpa.” He had an easy smile and laugh and loved to converse with anyone. A Boston native, Jim was born April 17, 1940, to James and Hilda Henry. Jim graduated Northeastern University in Boston and San Diego State University, where he earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering.
He is survived by his wife Anne; his son John (Debra) and their daughters Kaileigh and Kayla; his daughter Stephanie and her daughters Delaney, Catlin and Sierra and their children; and his daughter Kym (Scott) and their children Parker, Olivia, Chase and Lauren. He is also survived by his son Keith (Noelle) and their son Aidan. He was predeceased by his beloved grandson Jack.
He is survived by his brothers, Charles, Robert (Josephine) and Kevin. He was predeceased by his sister Kathleen.
Visitation will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 24 at John E. Day Funeral Home, 85 Riverside Ave., Red Bank. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. March 25 at the Church of the Nativity, 180 Ridge Road, Fair Haven.
Contributions can be made to the pediatric brain cancer foundation Liv Like a Unicorn at livlikeaunicorn.org, or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at cff.org.
Please visit James’ memorial website at johnedayfuneralhome.com.
The article originally appeared in the March 24 – 30, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.
