Beryl Ann Henne

Beryl Ann Henne, 89, of Fredericksburg, Virginia passed away on Monday, September 5, 2022 at Mary Washington Hospital.

Beryl Ann Arnett was born on June 17th, 1933 in Newkirk, Oklahoma. After earning her teaching certification, she moved to Lawton, Oklahoma, where she met a young Army officer, Carl Henne.  They really hit it off when, on their first date, Beryl wore a lovely dress and heels for a hike. They married on December 1st, 1956.  They had 4 children: Laura (1957 Lawton, Oklahoma), Carl and Carolyn (1960 Fort Knox, Kentucky) and Kurt (1962 Stillwater, Oklahoma).  

Carl’s thirty year stint in the Army led to a wide array of living locations: Germany, Kansas, Texas, Michigan, and finally in Virginia.  Beryl started a new career as a contract specialist for Government Services Administration. She was a proud member of the National Organization for Women and worked with them to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.  

In the eighties, Carl retired and studied in order to captain their new live-aboard sailboat.  Beryl retired and joined him on the boat and they sailed to the Virgin Islands where they enjoyed an adventurous and happy life together until Hurricane Hugo blew through and precipitated their return to Virginia.  

They settled in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where they quickly volunteered for several projects to benefit housing-insecure local residents. Beryl and Carl loved to travel; they went all over the country and the world in their retirement. Trips included a coast-to-coast tour of the United States, trips through Asia, Africa, South America, Canada, a luxurious river cruise through Europe and an African safari which included exciting encounters with a very fast Hippopotamus and larcenous baboons. Beryl continued to hike with Carl but she switched from heels to hiking boots.

Beryl had numerous interests including collecting art and art objects throughout her travels and supporting many local Fredericksburg artists. When she was home in Oklahoma, she added to her collection with Western pieces. Interested in family history, she prepared a catalog of Henne and Arnett ancestry. Beryl also had a lifelong interest in literature and writing.

Beryl was deeply loved by her family. Survivors include her children, Laura Elizabeth Henne, Carl David Henne, Carolyn Lee Henne and Kurt Edward Henne; and her grandchildren, Connor Robert Henne, Timothy Carl Henne, Catherine Marie Henne and Brooks Lacey Henne.  

She was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Carl Henne, in 2017.  

A service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at which time her ashes will be placed with those of her husband’s. The date is anticipated to be in 2023 and is still to be determined.   

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Doctors Without Borders (www.doctorswithoutborders.org )