Dennis Henshaw
May 28, 1940 - March 19, 2025
Dennis Lynn Henshaw passed away at the age of 84 on 3-19-2025 in Palm Springs due to a sudden blood clot.
Dennis was born in South Gate, California to Norman and Viola Henshaw. An only child, he grew up in South Gate and graduated South Gate High School in 1958. Fresh out of high school, he worked for a pharmaceutical company delivering supplies to local pharmacies in the Southeast area. At a pharmacy in Downey, he met Theresa (“Terri”) Harvey from Downey. They dated, fell in love and married on June 17, 1961. They bought a home on Guatemala Avenue in Downey and lived there for 50 years, while having and raising their 3 boys there. When the boys were young, Dennis would volunteer for their “Indian Guides” meetings and was the annual cook or train-tram driver at the Maude Price School fundraising carnivals during the 70’s. He looked forward to the family’s annual summer trip to a beach house in La Salina, Mexico, where many good times were had with family and friends during the 70’s and 80’s.
Dennis worked for the pharmaceutical company E.R. Squibb & Sons for 30 years. He moved on to the Northrop B-2 Division and ended up retiring from there. While working full time, he also owned a video-rental business in Downey, when that was popular, and owned a house painting business. He painted many local Downey homes during those years. He worked so hard that he had to have two heart surgeries 20 years apart. He still did what he wanted to however, looked great and would get a kick when people guessed him to be 15 years younger than he actually was.
Dennis always loved cars and trucks. He had a 1956 Chevy truck early on in the marriage he loved to take to car shows. He never drove or had a dirty car his entire life. They were always spotless somehow.
After retiring, he and Terri enjoyed traveling and camping in their RV. After living in Downey for 50 years, they sold the Downey house, the RV and moved to Big Bear. There, he enjoyed the quiet surroundings, fresh air, open spaces, plowing snow with his tractor, feeding the Bluejays and squirrels and became obsessed with his firewood pile. He hunted for, found, dragged home, cut, chopped and split firewood daily up until his death.
Dennis is survived by his wife of nearly 64 years, Terri, and sons Troy (Shelly) and Ty, whom he bragged about often. He is also survived by his 9 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceeded in death by his parents and eldest son Todd, who passed in July 2024.
Dennis will be remembered as loyal, lovable, but crotchety at times, and as a good son, husband, father, grandfather and friend. His wishes were to be cremated, “For dust you are, and to dust you will return”.
A celebration of Dennis’ life will be private.
In honor of Dennis, give your car or truck a good wash and polish, or do it for someone else. He would like that.
Godspeed Dennis.