In Memory

Burton F Henderson - Class Of 1927

Burton Henderson  '27  of Ventura died Sunday, December 5, 2004.  He was 94 years old.  He was born in Los Angeles on February 27, 1910 and came to Ventura in 1938.

Mr. Henderson is survived by his wife, Margaret Henderson; two grandchildren, nephews, and cousins.  Burton, a stationer, joined with the late Jack Skinner to form a partnership and they purchased the MacGregor office supply business, renaming it County Stationers.

Mr. Henderson was a graduate of South Pasadena High School, Pomona College and the Claremont Graduate School.  During his undergraduate years, he worked part time in both the college bookstore and the library.  Both experiences proved beneficial in his years in the stationery and book business.  After graduation from graduate school, he taught two years in a private high school.  He left teaching to become a salesman for a Los Angeles wholesale stationer, where he and Skinner became friends.

During World War II, Mr. Henderson served for four years in the Quartermaster Corps at Camp Roberts, California.  He was honorably discharged as a master sergeant in 1946 and returned to Ventura and County Stationers.  He retired in 1972.

Burton had many civic and industry affiliations.  Throughout his business career, he was a member of the Ventura Chamber of Commerce and had served as chairman of several of its committees.  In 1970-1971, he was a member of the Ventura City Charter Review Committee.  He was a member of the board of Ventura County Taxpayers Association and of the former Channel Islands State Bank, of which he was vice chairman.  His industry activities included district governor, board member, and president of the National Office Products Association in Washington, DC.  He was also a member of the California Office Products Conference and its treasurer.

Mr. Henderson was a member of the organizing committee of the Ventura Arts and Crafts Association and was elected its first president.  A board member of the Ventura County chapter of the American National Red Cross, he was chapter chairman in 1961.  For 12 years he was a board member of AID/United Givers of Ventura County and its president in 1962.  He was a member of the board of the Pomona College Alumni Association and its president for one year (1958).  After retirement, Mr. Henderson did volunteer work with the Ventura chapter of SCORE and for 15 years served as a volunteer instructor for the AARP 55-Alive mature driving course throughout the county, which was offered at several senior centers.

A memorial service was held at Church of the Foothills, Ventura.