Ralph Henson

Waynesville, Ralph F. Henson, age 70, of 57 Mill Street, passed away peacefully, with his family by his side, on Tuesday, November 22, 2011 at Mission Hospital. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Blain C. and Millie Haynes Henson and was also preceded in death by three sisters, Ruby Haney, Edith Ewart, and May Henson. Ralph worked at Bill Potts Service Station and Stan Henry�s Auto Sales and was former owner of Ralph�s Cleaning Services. In 1974, he began a law enforcement and security services career that spanned more than 37 years of dedicated service. He became a law enforcement officer at the Hazelwood Police Department and furthered his career at the Maggie Valley Police Department, Haywood County Sheriff�s Department, Lake Junaluska Assembly Security, and Lankford Protective Security Services. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and received several commendations including Haywood County Sheriff�s Department�s 1995 Employee of the Year and the 2004 Haywood County Special Deputy of the Year and also received the Lake Junaluska Appreciation Award for Service in 2005. In addition to being a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend, Ralph touched the lives of many children playing Santa�s helper. He was a member of Sulphur Springs Freewill Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Jeannette Cutshaw Henson; one son, Phillip Henson of Waynesville; two sisters, Betty Cope of Cruso and Judith Henson of Raleigh; four brothers, Roy Henson and his wife, Geraldine, and Troy Henson and his wife, Wanda, of Bethel, Ray Henson and his wife, Peggy, of New York, and Gary Henson and his wife, Sarah, of Cruso; one sister-in-law, Phyllis Plemmons, and her husband, Mike, of Waynesville; nine nieces; five nephews, 13 great-nieces; 15 great-nephews; two great-great nieces; two great-great nephews; and numerous cousins. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at Stuart Auditorium at Lake Junaluska with Reverend Phillip Wyatt, Reverend Dick Campbell, and Reverend Tim Lolley officiating. Burial will follow at New Cruso Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be LaVerne Phillips, Bobby Suttles, Jason Hampton, William Ledbetter, Jimmy Parton, and Tom Alexander. Honorary pallbearers will be law enforcement officers. The family will receive friends beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville. Memorials may be made to Sulphur Springs Freewill Baptist Church, P.O. Box 413, Hazelwood, NC 28738 Special thanks to the doctors and nurses of the Neuro-Trauma Unit and the ER at Mission Hospital, Dr. Paschal and Dr. LaFata�s staff, as well as everyone who helped Ralph at Lake Junaluska the morning of his accident.

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