Richard Porter Henderson CHARLOTTE - 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.