HAROLD R. (COACH HAL) HENDERSON, JR.

D.O.B. JANUARY 4, 1931

D.O.D. SEPTEMBER 18, 2025

PRE-DECEASED BY SON, STEPHEN M. HENDERSON

SURVIVED BY WIFE, EVA (WALTER); SON, TERRY HENDERSON AND DAUGHTER, DEBRA LINDSEY (RICK)

4 GRANDCHILDREN:  NICOLE POCOL (PAUL), RYAN HENDERSON, ASHLEY RODGERS (BOBBY) AND TAYLAR WALL (JOSH)

14 GREAT GRANDCHILDREN:  JACOB, ASHTON, CALIN, TATUM, SAMUEL, HALLE, MADISON, CHARLOTTE, JACKSON, LANDRY, BENTLEY, EMMETT, OLIVIA AND DAVID.

HAL GREW UP ON HIS FATHER'S FARM IN ARMADA, MICHIGAN.  HE WENT TO SCHOOL IN A 1-ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE UNTIL HIGH SCHOOL AT ARMADA HIGH WHERE HE WAS A STAR BASKETBALL AND BASEBALL PLAYER.  HE WAS ALSO THE PRESIDENT OF HIS CLASS HIS SENIOR YEAR.

HAL ATTENDED CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY AND WAS PRESIDENT OF HIS FRATERNITY, SIGMA TAU, HIS SENIOR YEAR.  HE ALSO COACHED THE FRESHMAN BASEBALL TEAM THAT YEAR.

AFTER RECEIVING HIS BACHELOR'S DEGREE IN TEACHING MATH AND PHSICAL EDUCATION, HAL BEGAN HIS PROFESSIONAL CAREER OF TEACHING AND COACHING IN GREENVILLE, MICHIGAN WHERE HE MET HIS BEAUTIFUL WIFE, EVA WALTER.  AFTER THEIR 2 SONS, STEVE AND TERRY WERE BORN, HAL AND EVA MOVED THE FAMILY TO EAST DETROIT WHEN HE ACCEPTED A JOB OFFER AT HARPER WOODS NOTRE DAME.  WHILE LIVING THERE, HAL AND EVA ENJOYED THE BIRTH OF THEIR DAUGHTER, DEBRA.  HAL WAS THE HEAD BASKETBALL COACH AT NOTRE DAME AND ALSO COACHED GOLF, FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL AS AN ASSISTANT COACH.

IN 1963 HAL ACCEPTED ANOTHER JOB OFFER FROM BLOOMFIELD HILLS (ANDOVER) HIGH SCHOOL.  THERE HE WAS HEAD BASKETALL AND BASEBALL COACH, AND ASSISTANT FOOTBALL COACH HANDLING THE OFFENSIVE LINE DUTIES.  HAL AND EVA BOUGHT A HOUSE AND MOVED THE FAMILY TO SYLVAN LAKE, MICHIGAN IN 1965 WHERE THEY RESIDED FOR 58 YEARS.  HAL AND EVA TOOK SUMMER VACATIONS CAMPING WITH THE KIDS, BOATING ON SYLVAN LAKE AND VACATIONING WITH FRIENDS IN ACAPULCO, ALL WHILE EARNING HIS MASTERS DEGREE AT WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY.

DURING HIS COACHING YEARS FROM 1963 TO 1977, HAL'S BASKETBALL TEAMS WON MORE LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS THAN ANY OTHER COACHES IN THE LEAGUE.  HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE MICHIGAN HIGH SCHOOL COACHES HALL OF FAME IN 1996.

HAL ACHIEVED MASTER MASON STATUS AND BECAME A SHRINER, WHICH HE WAS VERY INVOLVED IN.  HE WAS ALSO A DEDICATED LIFE LONG LUTHERAN, SERVING OVER 20 YEARS AS A DEACON AT SYLVAN LAKE LUTHERAN CHURCH AND A LESSON READER DURING CHURCH SERVICES.

HAL WAS A LIFETIME MEMBER AND COMMODORE AT THE OAKLAND COUNTY BOAT CLUB FOR 3 CONSECUTIVE YEARS, ALONG WITH SERVING ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES.

UPON RETIREMENT HAL ENJOYED GOLFING, PLAYING CARDS, DANCING, SWIMMING, PLAYING GAMES AND WATCHING HIS GRANDKIDS AND GREAT GRANDKIDS PLAY SPORTS.  ONE OF HIS FAVORITE ACTIVITIES WAS PLAYING BINGO AND WINNING CANDY FOR HIS GREAT GRANDKIDS.

HAL WAS AN AVID DETROIT SPORTS FAN FOR THE TIGERS, LIONS, RED WINGS AND PISTONS.

IN 2023 HAL AND EVA MOVED TO TOMBALL, TEXAS AND LIVED WITH DEBRA AND RICK AT THEIR HOUSE.

WE AND MANY OTHERS WILL MISS HIM DEARLY.

OUR FAMILY WILL ALWAYS BE APPRECIATIVE OF THE LOVE AND CARE HE RECEIVED AT HARVEST HOME/INWOOD CROSSING AND HOSPICE CARE.

PLEASE MAKE ANY DONATIONS TO SHRINERS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL .