Paul Henry Henning III, age 80, passed away on Wednesday, March 17, 2021, at his home in Winchester, Virginia. Paul was known for his kind and gentle spirit, his humility, and his selfless devotion to family. His pride in his three children and nine grandchildren knew no bounds. He was unwavering in the principles of truth and honor that he held dear. He loved God and Country and is remembered for standing for the national anthem, hand over his heart, anytime he heard it, whether publicly or privately. As a gardener, he appreciated every living thing, always looking for the first crocus of spring. He lived a life of gratitude.

Paul was born in East Cleveland, Ohio, in 1940, to parents Paul Henry Henning, Jr., and Ila Jo (Griller) Henning, along with two sisters (Judith Ann Harper and the late Linda Jo Swarz). His family lived in the Cleveland area during his childhood, moving between East Cleveland, Euclid, and finally to Shaker Heights, where he attended Shaker Heights High School.

He was raised in a loving home where his parents taught him and his sisters the importance of hard work, duty, and civic responsibility. Paul was always very responsible and industrious and was an active Boy Scout member during his youth. He enjoyed sports such as baseball and swimming and had a paper route during this time (he invested his earnings from this young age in the stock market, investments which he kept throughout his lifetime). He told the story of collecting his paper route earnings from an apartment building on Monday evenings, where he could watch an entire episode of “I Love Lucy” as he went from apartment to apartment to collect the payments.

Paul was a model student and was active in a variety of high school activities, serving as vice president of his senior class and treasurer of the student council, as well as participating in high school football and high school wrestling. As a kind and sincere person, he was admired and well-liked by his fellow students and teachers alike.

Following graduation from Shaker Heights High School in 1959, he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in 1963 and served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for 14 years, which included tours of duty in Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam, in addition to various stateside locations. During this time, he earned a Master’s degree from the University of Illinois, where he met the love of his life, Anna Lee Riggleman of Dorcas, West Virginia. They were married in Anna Lee’s hometown in 1966.

After the completion of his military service, Paul remained in the Detroit suburb of Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan, where he and his wife raised their three children. It was during this time that Paul was employed as an engineer with Detroit Edison, until his retirement in 1997. During his retirement, Paul’s love of gardening gave him great pleasure, which resulted in winning a local beautification award. In 2016, Paul and Anna Lee relocated to the Winchester, Virginia, area to be closer to their children and grandchildren.

He was the “rock” of his family and was steadfast in his principles and morals. He was sought after for wise counsel, guidance, and moral support. Although he was never all that comfortable in the spotlight, his unpretentiousness and kindhearted demeanor drew people toward him, and it is this sense of humility, graciousness, and wisdom that will live on as his legacy.

Paul is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Anna Lee (Riggleman); sister, Judy Harper (John); three children, Hillary Henning, Heather Schueckler (Dan), Paul Henry “Hank” Henning IV (Stormy); nine grandchildren, Gabriel, Christine, Elizabeth, Joseph, Charity, Samuel, John-Paul Schueckler and Paul Henry V and Eli Henning; and many other relatives who loved him dearly.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 am on Wednesday at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church with Reverend Stephen Holmes officiating. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Winchester, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Paul’s memory to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, VA 22601 or to a favorite charity of donor’s choice.