Henrietta M. Wildeboer

Henrietta M. Wildeboer, age 88, of Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, passed away peacefully in hospice care on Dec. 29, 2024. She was born in Michigan on May 7, 1936, to Ties and Tina Wildeboer. She is survived by her sister, Suzanne (John) Mendoza, and brother, Peter (Janet) Wildeboer and nieces Kimberly, Kristine, Kari and Kathy.

She graduated from Grand Rapids Christian High and Butterworth Hospital School of Nursing and joined the United States Navy as a nurse in 1965. Her first duty station was in San Diego, California. Other bases included Taipei, Great Lakes, Subic Bay, Oakland, New Orleans and Long Beach. Her last operating room was in Charleston, South Carolina, where she retired as a commander in 1985. She embraced travel during her service and after, visiting Egypt, India, Vietnam and many more places. Lovingly called Hank by all who knew her, she was well known for her love of cats, typically having two of her own. No stranger to Southern hospitality, her home was often filled with guests who she would happily take to all of the low-country tourist spots. Hank enjoyed being creative, whether that was as a master gardener, crafting jewelry or countless cross-stitches.

She was very dedicated to her East Cooper community and frequently helped to raise funds for area charities. Hank volunteered at numerous locations, including as tour guides at historical homes in the Charleston area as well as the USS Yorktown. Proud of her service, she was a charter member of the Navy Nurse Corps Association and founding director of the Palmetto Chapter. Hank received the Navy Nurse Corps Association Service Award in 2022.

Inurnment is planned at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at McAlister-smith.com

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to McAlister-Smith Funeral and Cremation, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, (843) 884-3833.