Dale Clark Henderson, age 91, passed away May 12, 2023, at Rainbow Rehabilitation and Health Care in Bartlett, TN, after two years of declining health. He was born April 2, 1932 in Johnson City, TN to John Steele Henderson, Sr. and June Ivy Clark Henderson. He grew up in Memphis and was a 1951 graduate of Bartlett High School, where he was an accomplished saxophone player in the band for 4 years. During his junior year in high school he joined the U.S. Naval Reserve, where he was Chief Aviation Electronics-man Airman and was honorably discharged from the reserve December 5, 1957.
He joined International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers December 1, 1953 and completed the apprenticeship program in 1956 and retired in 1994. He attended Memphis State in the late 1950’s and graduated Magna Cum Laude from State Technical Institute at Memphis in 1981 with an Associate of Science degree in Vocational Technical Education. He was a member of Phi Theta Kappa at State Tech. He taught the electrical trades program a few years at East High School Vocational School.
Dale got involved in racing in high school and became an avid participant in the sport. He became one of the youngest drivers in competition and was one of the ace drivers of the B drivers. Participating in active competition at many race tracks around the Mid South, he won two trophies in 1954 at Riverside Speedway. One for 100% attendance and the other for top man in the point system in the B division.
He was preceded in death by his parents, half brother, John Steele Henderson, Jr., his first wife and mother of his children, Betty Yvonne Henderson and two daughters Terri Coates Perkins and Lynda Disney Necaise. He is survived by his wife of 26 years Betty Carol Henderson and one daughter Carolyn Teems (Chris), grandchildren, Jennifer, Kevin, Jill, Rebekah, Dale, Alex and Adam, several great grandchildren and step sons Woody and Ronald Brackeen.
Visitation will be 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Friday, May 19, 2023 with the funeral to follow at 1:00 p.m. at High Point Funeral Home, 3788 Summer Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. Burial will be at Memphis Memory Gardens, 6444 Raleigh La Grange Road, Memphis, Tennessee. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 4400 Clayton Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri, 63110 or charity of donor’s choice.