Henry Girard

Henry Girard, age 95, of West, passed away Sunday afternoon, June 19, 2016 at Providence Hospice Place in Waco. A rosary will be recited 6:00 p.m. Monday at the Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, with visitation to follow until 8:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption, with Rev. Paul Hudson as celebrant. Military Graveside Rites will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, conducted by West Veterans Honor Guard. Henry was born August 24, 1920 near Leroy, the son of Will and Julie (Beseda) Girard. He graduated from West High School in 1938 before attending Baylor University. On May 31, 1946, Henry was united in marriage to Cressie Maxwell at Chanute Field, IL. He enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps on March 7, 1940. He received an Air Cadet appointment on December 10, 1941, three days after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Henry was a Commissioned Second Lieutenant and rated Pilot, assigned to the training command for bomber cadets for a year. He was then transferred to the Army Transport Command in the China-Burma-India Theater, flying 76 missions over the Himalayas in support of Chinese Forces. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. For the next ten years, Henry was employed by the Hayes Aircraft Corporation as a test pilot, flying U.S. Air Force airplanes after major overhaul. In 1960, he accepted a position on the U.S. Army Staff at the Pentagon which lasted until his retirement in 1977. When they returned to West, Henry became an faithful member of St. Mary's Catholic Church of the Assumption. He was also a member of the VFW Post No. 4819, American Legion Post #478 and the Kiwanis Club, all in West. Henry was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, Louis and William. Survivors include his beloved wife of 70 years, Cressie (Maxwell) Girard of West; children, John Girard and wife Gena of San Diego, CA, Richard Girard and wife Paula of Sparta, TN, Douglas Girard and wife Cyndi of Kingston, NH, Barbara Nay and husband Robert of Concord NC, and James Girard of West; sisters, Maryann Mladenka, Lillian Strange and Helen Pomykal; 10 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and other relatives. Pallbearers will be Charles Girard, Travis Girard, Melissa Girard, Emily Girard, Kyle Girard, Chelsea Girard, Ryan Girard, Zhanna Nay, Annya Nay, and Lilya Nay. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.