Historic Springfield funeral home director dies

Robert C. Henry II, the director and owner of the Robert C. Henry Funeral Home who had recently been convicted in a federal court for theft, died Thursday, Oct. 12, according to a statement from his family.

He had been hospitalized for several weeks at the Ohio State University Ross Heart Hospital, where he was battling an illness.

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Henry was recently convicted of accepting more than $180,000 in Social Security benefits over 15 years for a woman who died over whom he had power of attorney. Henry said in his proceedings he had never personally taken the money, but forwarded it to the woman’s family, with whom he could not get in contact.

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The court ordered him to repay the money and serve up to three years of probation. His funeral director’s license was also under review by the Ohio Board of Funeral Embalmers and Funeral Directors after he allegedly lied on his renewal application, stating he hadn’t pleaded guilty to or been convicted of a felony charge, which contradicted his guilty plea in September 2016.

Henry is the son of Robert C. Henry, believed to be the first black mayor of a city Springfield's size.

A family member declined to comment but said the funeral home is still operational with the help of a family friend and licensed funeral director.

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