Obituary

Charles David Henson
(February 12, 1937 - May 14, 2016)

Charles D. Henson, 79 of Huntington, W.Va. passed away on Saturday, May 14, 2016 in St. Mary’s Medical Center. He was the founder of Henson & Kitchen Mortuary, which was originally established and began serving families as Henson Mortuary in October 1972. He was born February 12, 1937 in Huntington, W.Va. the son of the late Otis and Florence Drummond Henson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Loretta Sue Cottrell Henson in 2002. He was a graduate of Huntington East High School, Marshall University and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He became a licensed funeral director and embalmer on April 18, 1962. He was a licensed funeral director and embalmer for 54 years serving the Huntington, Barboursville and Milton areas where he served thousands of families over his career. He was an avid Marshall University Football, Basketball and a Cincinnati Reds Baseball fan. He was a member of The West Virginia Funeral Directors Association and the National Funeral Directors Association as well as a member of Lewis Memorial Baptist Church and previously Barboursville Baptist Church. He was one of the original donors making the Emogene Dolin Jones Hospice House in Huntington, W.Va. possible by providing a room dedicated in honor of his late wife, Loretta Henson. He was a member of Minerva Lodge #13 AF & AM Masonic Lodge in Barboursville, W.Va; was a member of the Barboursville Lions Club and supported financially many community events including golf tournaments, youth sports and was also a U.S. Army Veteran. He is survived by one daughter, Amy Henson Smith (Greg) of Goshen, KY. and one son, David Henson (Andrea) of Huntington, W.Va; one sister, Dorothy Jean Henson Strader of Huntington, W.Va; a dear friend, Rebecca “Becky” Holton of Barboursville, W.Va. as well as his colleagues and work family at Henson & Kitchen Mortuary. Funeral services will be conducted at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, May 18, 2016 at Lewis Memorial Baptist Church with Dr. David Lemming officiating. He will be reunited with his wife, Loretta and Entombment will follow in Ridgelawn Memorial Park, Huntington, W.Va. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-9 PM on Tuesday, May 17, 2016 at Henson & Kitchen Mortuary, Huntington, W.Va. near Barboursville. The family request that memorial donations be made in Charlie’s honor to Hospice of Huntington.