Col. Henry Clay Van Dyke Sr. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

   FamilySearch ID: LJ1W-KJJ.

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Residence: 8217 First Avenue South, Birmingham, AL on 12 Nov 1937 in Birmingham, Jefferson, AL. ⁶

2. Newspaper: Birmingham News: Van Dyke Brothers in Air Force, 12 Sep 1944, Birmingham, Jefferson, AL. ⁷ Lt. Henry C. Van Dyke, son of Mrs. Connie [sic, should be Tommie] E. Van Dyke, 8217 First Avenue, South, recently received his bombardier's wings and commission at Deming, N. M., and is on leave visiting his mother. His brother, Lt. George R. Van Dyke, who recently returned from England, where he completed the required number of missions as navigator with the AAF, is now instructing at Galveston, Tex.

3. Occupation: college student on 5 Jul 1946 in Birmingham, Jefferson, AL. ¹

4. Residence: 8217 1st Ave. S, Birmingham, AL on 5 Jul 1946 in Birmingham, Jefferson, AL. ¹

5. Newspaper: Birmingham News: The city commission approved the appointment of Henry Clay Van Dyke as firefighter. His salary will be $225 a month., 8 Mar 1949, Birmingham, Jefferson, AL. ⁸

6. Census in 1950 in Birmingham, Jefferson, AL. ⁹ The 1950 census recorded at 8217 1st Avenue South: Henry C. Van Dyke, 25, fire fighter in fire department, living with wife Nancy E., 23; son Henry C. Jr., 2; and sone Richard A., born November 1949. Also in the home is Henry's mother, Tommie E. Van Dyke, clerk typist at internal revenue service, widowed, 53. Everyone was born in Alabama except Tommie in South Carolina.

7. Newspaper: Birmingham News: Mrs. George R. Van Dyke has flown to Frankfort, Germany. To visit Capt. George R. Van Dyke Jr. And family. She was accompanied by Mrs. H. W. Jungemann of Pascagoula. They will also visit Capt. Henry C. Van Dyke and family in Paris, France, 11 Jul 1955, Birmingham, Jefferson, AL. ¹⁰

8. Residence: on 20 Oct 1968 in Murfreesboro, Rutherford, TN. ¹¹

9. Residence: 171 Grandview Ave., Valparaiso, FL on 18 Jul 1970 in Valparaiso, Okaloosa, FL. ¹²

10. Residence: in 2008 in Greenville, Greenville, SC. ³

11. Obituary: Greenville News: Obituary of Henry Clay Van Dyke on 28 Aug 2010 in Greenville, Greenville, SC. ³ Henry Clay Van Dyke, husband of Nancy Grisham Van Dyke, passed peacefully on Friday, August 27, 2010 among his loving family in Greenville, S.C. He was 85 and was a former residence of Niceville, FL.
Henry led a distinguished career, serving in the United States Air Force for thirty years. His career began as a bombardier/navigator in WWII. He retired in 1973 as a colonel, having earned multiple commendations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Bronze Stars, and the Legion of Merit, among others. He and his beloved bride Nancy retired to Niceville, Fla. where they were members of the First United Methodist Church. They moved to Greenville, S.C. in 2008.
In addition to his wife, he leaves behind four children, including Henry C. Van Dyke, Jr. and his wife Connie, of Greenville, S.C.; Richard A. Van Dyke and his wife Tami, of Niceville, Fla.; Monica V. Quigley of Norfolk, Va.; and Pamela G. Beacher and her husband Gary, of Natchez, Miss., ten grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren.
There will be a celebration of Henry's life, the date and time to be announced. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Compassus, 500 Jeff Davis Drive, Spartanburg, SC 29303 (877-447-2273) or to the Alzheimer's Association , 301 University Ridge, Suite 500, Greenville, SC 29601. Condolences may be expressed to the family at hcvandyke@yahoo.com.

Henry married Nancy Earlene Grisham, daughter of Hagan Andrew Grisham and Annie Pearl Fendley, on 5 Jul 1946 in , Jefferson, AL.¹ (Nancy Earlene Grisham was born on 28 Jun 1926 in Remlap, Blount, AL,^{1 13} died on 21 Oct 2019 in Greer, Greenville, SC ¹³ and was buried in Anderson, Anderson, SC ¹³.)