Obituary of Mr. Victor Henderson

Vic passed away peacefully at Lakeridge Health Bowmanville on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at the age of 93.

He is predeceaced by his dear wife Dorothy Theresa (nee Brennan) on September 22, 2000, his parents William James Henderson and Ethel Henrietta Grochofsky, siblings William Huntley Henderson, Elizabeth Alma Morey and Jack David Henderson. 

He is survived by his nieces and nephews Bill (Kathy) Henderson, Bob (Irene) Henderson, Vic (Ann) Henderson, Margo (Larry) Judge, Jean Shanks,  Steve (Linda) Henderson, Karen Morey, Linda Morey, and all their families. 

In our family, he was the last of that great generation that survived the Great Depression, fought World War II, and then built the Canada we know and love today.

Vic’s adventures began the day he was born on April 8th, 1925 in Chatsworth Ontario.

As a boy he had a few jobs, his favourite being the bicycle delivery boy for the local drugstore.  He always wanted to contribute to the family to help his mom.   At the young age of 16 he joined the army and began a 5 year career there. He marked his 20th birthday as a reconnaissance tank commander with the South Alberta tank Corp., leading Canadian troops through Holland during World War II.  He was honoured to earn: -the 1939 - 1945 Star

          -In defence of Britain medal

          -France to Germany medal

          -Victory medal

          -thank you medals from Holland among others.

After the war his career began with the Toronto Police services.  It was  the summer of 1946 just 2 weeks after he returned from overseas with the Canadian army that he became a city police officer.  That was the beginning of what he described as “an interesting law enforcement career.”   It was so interesting that it earned him an Ontario Medal for Police Bravery, 3 merit marks, 22 letters of commendation (including some from other sources such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police).

It wasn’t long after he became a police officer that he graduated to plainclothes, then promoted to detective in the 1950’s.   A few years later he became a member of Toronto’s  first hold up squad.   It was Vic’s wartime knowledge of weapons and explosives that led to him being picked as one of the originals of Metros first four man bomb squad in the early days of the Metro force.  He served 15 years with that squad, then retired in 1974.    But by the end of that year he was back in Police work as head of the new Peel Regional Police explosives unit.    Here he designed the force’s bomb trailer, considered by experts at that time to be the best in North America.  He also played a key roll in training members of Metro and Peel’s bomb disposal crews, and more than 60 others across Canada and the US.   He retired in 1985 after 40 years as a police officer, 25 of them with bomb squads.

Despite his very busy career, Vic had time to find the love of his life, Dorothy Theresa Brennan.   They married in 1949 and had 52 adventurous years of happiness,  world travel and time at their cottage.  

The family wishes to thank staff at Traditions of Durham, Oshawa, where he had lived the last four years, the very supportive staff at Lakeridge Health Oshawa for their care during his last weeks, and Dr Osborne, his physician, for his wisdom, care and comfort. 

He is resting at Ogden Funeral Home,  4164 Sheppard Ave. E, Scarborough.   Visitation will be Wednesday at 10 a.m., followed by his funeral service at 11:00.   Refreshments following.  You are then welcome to join Vic's family for his internment to Mount Hope Cemetery.  

Vic was born April 8th, 1925, in Chatsworth Ontario.