Obituary of Richard Henderson

Richard Porter Henderson Beloved father and grandfather, Richard P. Henderson, 85, died on January 31, 2013 due to complications associated with pneumonia. Richard, also known as Dick, was a Southern gentleman with a playful sense of humor and giving spirit. Richard was born in 1927 in Waterloo, Iowa to Elizabeth and Porter Henderson. He had many fond memories of his youth growing up in Florida and Charlotte?s Steele Creek community where his family had a small dairy farm. Richard joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 and served in the South Pacific during World War II. He graduated from Clemson College with a degree in mechanical engineering and worked as a mechanical contractor, primarily in the Carolinas and southeastern United States. In more recent years, he was an instructor at CPCC?s Harper Campus and volunteered with the Charlotte Presbytery?s Disaster Relief Program. Richard also volunteered with the Room In The Inn program, collected and distributed furniture for those in need, and coordinated efforts to get mechanical equipment and labor donated to help with the upkeep of smaller churches. For many years, he was especially happy when providing hands-on maintenance at his church, Steele Creek Presbyterian, where he formerly served as both deacon and elder. He was a Red Cross supporter, making frequent blood donations throughout his lifetime. Richard felt very fortunate to have spent many loving years with his wife, Carmen Henderson, who died in 2011 and with his younger daughter, Sandra Cress, who died in 1995. He leaves many joyful and fond memories for his daughter, Lora Henderson; grandchildren, Kathleen Cress and Owen Cress; son-in-law, David Cress; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Wayne and Helen Caskey; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Henderson and Lillian Cook. Richard had wonderful times with family, friends and co-workers over the years, including the special friends he made during the past two years while living at Regency Retirement Village. The family sincerely appreciates the peaceful comfort Richard felt during his final hours at Levine and Dickson Hospice House at Southminster. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, 7404 Steele Creek Road, Charlotte, NC 28217. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall at the church following the interment. In lieu of flowers, the family would be pleased to have friends donate a pint of blood at the Red Cross in Richard?s memory, make a donation to Steele Creek Presbyterian Church, 7407 Steele Creek Rd., Charlotte, NC 28217, The Alzheimer's Association Western Carolina, 3800 Shamrock Dr., Charlotte, NC 28215 or the Susan G. Komen Foundation, PO Box 601597 Charlotte, NC 28260. Arrangements are in the care of Hankins & Whittington Funeral Service 1111 East Blvd. Charlotte, NC. Please share condolences online at www.hankinsandwhittington.com