Life of Henry L. Bolton Sr. 

Henry L. Bolton was born in Seward, Oklahoma to Theodore and Bertha Bolton on January 25, 1932.  He moved to Fort Wayne, IN in the early 1940s and graduated from Central High School in 1951.  Henry had a dream to be an architect and was anxious for the opportunity to "sit in" on the operations of a local architectural firm when he graduated from high school, but instead, he was drafted into the US Army, where he served until 1953.  

Mr. Bolton never did become an architect but instead found work as a display manager for Richman Brothers Clothing stores in Indiana and parts of Ohio.  This work gave him a chance to use his artistic skills and creativity. He started with the firm in 1956 as a porter-presser, a job he remembered best for giving him the chance to use his art skills. He did take an architectural drafting course and, since his employment by Richman Bros, he attended a refresher course in window display. 

Upon retiring from Richmond Brothers clothing stores after 35 years, he accepted a position at the Fort Wayne Police Department (FWPD) as the property room manager, which consisted of material and vehicle disbursements for the entire department. He worked at FWPD until his retirement at the age of 85.  

Henry married his first wife, Jo Ann, here in Fort Wayne in 1955.  They remained happily married until her death in 1985.  After the passing of his first wife, Henry married Judith Wallace (Bolton) in 1986, and they remained together until her passing on Nov. 25, 2010. Surviving him are four sons, Henry Bolton Jr., Charles M. Bolton, Allen Bolton, and Kenneth Wallace, and several grandchildren.  

When he wasn’t traveling from store to store on business, he enjoyed golf and lent a hand as assistant canteen manager at the American Legion Post 148. The Boltons are members of Union Baptist Church.