Obituary of Henry Sellers

Dr. Henry Grady Sellers, Jr., passed away June 30 in Waco, Texas, at the age of 91, following a long struggle with Parkinson's Disease. Henry was born to Henry Grady and Iva Blanche Sellers on June 18, 1922 in Pascagoula, Mississippi. He was raised in Sulphur Springs, Texas and graduated from Sulphur Springs High School in 1940. He studied architecture at The University of Texas at Austin before serving in the U.S. Army from October 1942 to November 1945. During the war, he served in the 82nd Airborne Division as a topographic draftsman attached to the 508th Regimental Headquarters. His combat experience included parachute jumps in the invasions of Normandy and Holland and action in the Battle of the Bulge. Among the medals he was awarded were the Purple Heart, the Bronze Arrowhead and four Bronze Stars. He served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1950 to 1982, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Henry married Veda Jo Underwood of Denton, Texas on August 8, 1948. In June of 1950, he graduated from the UT School of Dentistry in Houston and began private practice in Sulphur Springs, retiring in 1998. His hobbies centered on involvement with his children, including family camping, baseball coach, softball coach, Cubmaster and Scoutmaster. He continued to be active in Boy Scouts even after his sons graduated from Troop 69. He is survived by his wife, Veda; son, Grady; daughter, Susan and husband, Marlon McGough; son, Richard and wife, Suzanne; daughter, Mary Jo Strickland; Patricia Gumm Sellers and Kyle Strickland. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Nathan Sellers, Lauren Simpson, Paul Strickland, Jonathan Sellers, Bethany Sellers and Emma Strickland. The family expresses their gratitude to the staff of Ridgecrest Retirement Community and Bluebonnet Hospice for all of their kindness and care. The service will be held Wednesday afternoon, July 3, at 2:00, at West Oaks Funeral Home in Sulphur Springs, with visitation beginning one hour before. Burial will follow at City Cemetery with Rick Wilson, Harlon Hammond, Chad Cable, Nathan Sellers, Paul Strickland, Jonathan Sellers and Steven Simpson serving as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to First United Methodist Church of Sulphur Springs. Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home. www.westoaksfuneralhome.com