Charles Edward “Speck” Henderson, 83, of Richmond, Va., died Monday, Nov. 30, 2009. He was born Feb. 4, 1926 in Suffolk, Va.
Speck was devoted to his mother, the late Ruby Keller Henderson. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Dallas Brauer Henderson; step-daughter, Christina Brauer Stoneburner and her husband, Lewis; step-son Otto C. Brauer III and his wife, Maggie; three step-grandchildren, Ann Bellamy Stoneburner and her husband, David E. Finkelson, Lewis T. Stoneburner and Otto C. Brauer IV; two great-granddaughters, Avery and Piper Finkelson; and cousin, Howard G. Harrell and his wife, Denise.
In 1942, Speck was one of the young men enrolled as a freshman at Hargrave Military Academy. He came into his own at Hargrave, playing football and obtaining the rank of Sergeant.
In 1944, between his junior and senior year, Speck was call to military duty. Assigned to Troop D 866th Cavalry “Recon” 6th Armored Division, he was sent to Europe to join the allied push for Berlin. After transfer to Patton’s group, he was involved in the famous fight at Bastogne. In his service to his country, he earned two Bronze Stars, Legion of Merit, ETO Ribbon with three stars and two Purple Hearts. When his military commitment ended, he returned to Hargrave, where he graduated in 1946 and completed a post graduate year in 1947. Speck continued his education at the University of Virginia and RPI. He was hired by British American Tobacco Company and in their employment he spent three 1Ž2 years in China when Mao Tse Tung came into power. Upon return to the U.S. he attended Yale and studied for about a year in Far Eastern Affairs. For the next 38 years, until retirement, Speck worked for American Tobacco Company, becoming Director of Military and Government Sales International. Speck never met a stranger and enjoyed being active in the Republican Party, Richmond Navy League, West Richmond Businessmen’s Association, Richmond Forum and the Skal Club. Speck was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ and later attended Derbyshire Baptist Church.
The family would like to thank the nurses and caregivers from Lakewood Manor and Mature Options for their compassionate care and support over the last year.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 at Bliley’s-Central, 3801 Augusta Ave., Richmond, VA 23230, where a funeral service will be held Friday, Dec. 4, at noon. Interment will be Saturday, Dec. 5, at noon at Cedar Hill Cemetery, Suffolk, Va.