He was born on Aug. 24, 1949, at Independence to Sterling A. and Gladys M. (Darbro) Henderson. He grew up in the rural area near Cherryvale and attended Billings Grade School. He graduated from Labette County Community High School at Altamont in 1967.
In December 1971, he was in the last group drafted during the Vietnam era. He was stationed at Fort Riley and also served in Germany. He was discharged in September 1973 and had lived in Parsons since that time.
From 1973 to 1989, he was employed by the M-K-T Railroad as a boilermaker-welder. He was employed at Power Flame as a fire tester for 15 years and the past seven years had been employed at the Parsons State Hospital and Training Center as a boiler fireman.
He was a member of Assembly of God Church in Cherryvale, the Vintage Motor Bike Club, the Cushman Club, the Kansas Bluegrass Association and the National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees. He collected antique gas engines and vintage motor scooters.
He married Jayna L. Olmsted on Feb. 12, 1972, at Central Avenue Christian Church in Parsons. They have attended many bluegrass festivals and were devoted fans of the Riders in the Sky, where he was known as the “long suffering Kim.” He had attended over 137 of their performances.
Kim had maintained the grounds, as a volunteer, of the Girl Scout Little House for over 10 years. He loved cats, especially his favorite, Harley.
Survivors include his wife, Jayna Henderson of the home; two sisters, Belva Wallace of Fredonia and Denise Voss and her husband, J.C., of Sapulpa, Okla.; his mother-in-law, Betty Olmsted of Parsons; his brother-in-law, Dale Gildart of Thayer; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his father-in-law, Col. Dick Olmsted; his sister, Corrinea Gildart; and his brother-in-law, Bob Wallace.
The service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home. Burial will be in Mound Valley Cemetery, with military honors given by Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to either the Parsons Historical Museum or the Parsons Girl Scouts and may be left at or sent to the funeral home, Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
Online condolences may be left at www.wallfuneralhomes.com.
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