Henry Arthur Despault

Henry Arthur Despault was suddenly taken home to the Lord on November 29, 2017. Henry was the third child of Alfred and Florence (Allard) Despault. He was born in Shirley, Massachusetts on August 15, 1951, as an Army brat, but always called Texas home. Henry spent most of his childhood in San Antonio and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1969. As this was during the Vietnam era, Henry enlisted in the Army, and enjoyed telling the story of his draft notice arriving while he was in basic training. After eight years in the Army, Henry determined that a military career was not for him. Deciding to settle in Austin, Texas after his discharge from the Army, Henry quickly discovered he enjoyed the printing business, and would stay in that career field for almost three decades. After a couple of years Henry moved to San Antonio to be closer to his two children, Dawn and Eric Despault. He took a job at Clarke Printing Company where he met the woman he would spend the rest of his life with, Carla (Barilleaux) Hall. After a whirlwind romance (from first date to marriage was six months) Carla and Henry were married on June 22, 1984, with his two children and Carla's three year old son, Daniel Hall, as part of the wedding party. The next year, God blessed Henry and Carla with their son, Daryl.
Henry enjoyed life to the fullest. He loved fishing and many family vacations were spent on the Texas coast to indulge in this favorite hobby, as well as spend time on the beach. He enjoyed motorcycles, reading Stephen King novels and working with his hands. Many items in his home were handmade by Henry. He was an outdoor enthusiast and many weekends would find the family hiking and camping in one of the many state parks in the area. Henry was involved in the boys' school athletics and was a coach and assistant coach in baseball and basketball, as well as an assistant Scout leader. He was always up for a family game night, and many memories were made around the table playing cards or board games. As empty nesters, Henry and Carla enjoyed traveling and spending time with their close friends. Henry often reminisced about the times spent with friends, and these were highlights of his life.
As the printing business changed with technology, and it was necessary to move where the work was, the family moved to Austin, Texas in 1990. It was at the Fellowship Church in Round Rock, Texas where Henry discovered his passion and the Lord's calling on his life to serve. During a five year period Henry and Carla led an adult small group, and three of those five years, they simultaneously led a high school small group. Henry loved working with those kids most of all. They loved him in return, and he kept in touch with many of them over the years. This passion carried over to his time at Legacy Church in Plano where the men's group to which he belonged decided to start a special program for teenaged boys. Henry jumped right in and became an integral part of that program. Henry had a heart as big as Texas and was always looking for ways to help.
After work in printing dried up, Henry worked in telecommunications as an installer and then in various operations centers. After two years of surgeries on his knees, Henry semi-retired. He enjoyed working on projects around the house as his knees healed up, and he willingly stepped in to take care of the granddaughter who lived close by. Just before he moved to heaven, he was laying out plans for woodworking projects which he hoped to develop into a side business.
Henry was preceded in death by his parents Alfred Despault and Florence Despault, and his brother, John Despault. He is survived by his wife Carla Despault, daughter Dawn Despault, sons Eric Despault (Cyndi), Daniel Hall (Irene) and Daryl Despault (Leanne), as well as granddaughters Jasmine Bustamante, Sydney Hall and Emmie Wakeling, grandsons Aiden Despault, and Ethan Despault, his brother Richard Despault (Susan) and sister Nancy Despault (Terri), as well as many nieces and nephews.
"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die;"
Ecclesiastes 3:1-2
 

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Visitation

DEC 14. 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (CST)

Gateway Funerals & Cremation
17390 Preston Rd. Suite 310
Dallas, TX, 75252

Funeral Service

DEC 14. 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM (CST)

Gateway Funerals & Cremation
17390 Preston Rd. Suite 310
Dallas, TX, 75252

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