Henry J. Dishburger

Henry J. Dishburger, age 85, of Midland, beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend has left us here on earth to join his Savior Jesus Christ in Heaven on Wednesday morning Sept. 26, 2012. The son of the late Walter W. and Mabel C. (McNulty) Dishberger was born in Texas City, Texas on November 4, 1926. Henry went on to Stephen F. Austin University where he received his Bachelors of Science Degree in 1950 and was selected as a Distinguished Stephen F. Austin University Alumnus in 1993. He received his Masters Degree in Science in 1952 from Oklahoma State University. Henry served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He was employed with the Dow Chemical Company in research and development for Agrochemicals; retiring in 1990 after 35 years of service. He was a 60 year member of the American Chemical Society where he was Chairman, Vice Chairman and Treasurer of the Agrochemicals Division of the American Chemical Society.

Henry was a member of Sunrise Baptist Church where he served as Treasurer and a Trustee, a Trustee of the Bay Area Baptist Association and Michigan Southern Baptist Foundation, Executive Committee of the Baptist State Convention of Michigan and five years of loyal service as Trustee of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He had a heart for supporting small mission churches throughout Michigan. He was an avid golfer who loved playing as many different Michigan courses with his friends as he could. He twice accomplished the rare golfing feat of shooting his age; at 74 and later at 78.

Surviving is his wife of 61 years the former E. Merle Cox whom he married on January 28, 1951 in Nacogdoches, Texas; son, Paul T. Dishburger of Newnan, Georgia; DeAnn (Steven) Lee of Waynesville, Ohio, Denise (Tom) Clark of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Jasmine Lee, Alicia Clark, Travis Dishburger, Jana Clark, Carolyn Dishburger; brother, Walter W. (Ruth) Dishberger, Jr. of Conroe, Texas; many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents Henry was preceded in death by brothers, Thomas L. and Jackie Dishberger; sister, Elizabeth Sonnier.

Funeral services will take place 11:00 a.m., Saturday, September 29, 2012 at Sunrise Baptist Church in Midland. Pastor Mark Weick will officiate and Pastor Sam Hamilton of Emmanuel Baptist will share the eulogy. Interment will follow in Midland City Cemetery where Funeral Military Honors will be provided by the United States Navy and Midland Area Veterans. Family will receive friends at the Wilson MILLER Funeral Home, 4210 N. Saginaw Rd on Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and at the church on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service. Requests that memorials / in lieu of flowers be sent to the Henry & Merle Dishburger Scholarship Fund c/o New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 3939 Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans, LA 70126, the Salvation Army, or Chippewa Nature Center. Personal messages of condolence may be offered to the family at www.wilson-miller.com