Roy Willis Henderson

Roy Willis Henderson, 84, crossed the River Jordan into the arms of his Savior on June 2, 2014.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday June 5, 2014, in Biggers Funeral Chapel. Interment will be in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Biggers Funeral Home in Lake Worth.

Roy was born to Winston and Iva Henderson on January 5, 1930, in Fort Worth. In 1941 he moved with his family to Filmore, California.

After graduating from Filmore High School, Roy joined the United States Army with his best friend, Flay Hunt. He proudly served his country for four years. SFC Henderson loved his country.

With only nine months left to serve in the army and believing he wouldn’t be sent overseas with so little time left, Roy married his high school sweetheart, Elwanda Burgess in April of 1951. Two months later he was sent to Germany.

Roy and Elwanda suffered the loss of their first child, a daughter, at birth. Two years later they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Cindy. Fifteen years later, Joe entered their lives and was welcomed through adoption five years after that. Roy and Elwanda were married for 63 years. Daddy loved his family.

While working for Buick Motor Division, Roy surrendered to the ministry and began to attend Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary. He graduated with the first graduating class in 1963 with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He was called to his first pastorate at East Side Baptist Church in San Angelo, Texas. He pastored Westland First Baptist Church, West Handley Baptist Church, and Kings Highway Baptist Church, all located in Fort Worth, Texas; and Gateway Baptist Church in Borger, Texas. He pastored in the ministry for 52 years. The final years of his life, he worshipped at Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Springtown, Texas, under Brother Bobby Evans. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Bethany Theological Seminary in 1990 and an Honorary Doctorate degree from Trinity Valley Baptist Seminary in 1995. Brother Roy loved his Lord.

He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, and half-brother, Archie Gene Veal.

Special thanks to Dr. Mott and Renea of The Heart Center of North Texas, Dr. Hernandez, Dr. Page and the staff of The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders; and Torie, Brooke, and Tynisha of Covenant Care Hospice.

Roy is survived by his wife, Elwanda, of Weatherford; daughter, Cindy Gentry and husband, David of Weatherford; son Joe Henderson of Weatherford; grandsons, Ryan Gentry and wife, Rachel, and their daughter Emily Anne, of Benbrook; Adam Gentry and wife, Naomi, and their sons, Ethan Cole, Owen Jackson, and Anderson Reed, of Saginaw; nephew/grandson, Andrew Gentry and wife, Nikki, of Arlington; cousins, Billy Rich and wife, Lee, of Granbury; Dorothy Rich of Granbury; sister-in-laws Venita Turner of Tennessee, Letha Jones of Michigan, and Glenna Clements of Arizona; brother-in-law Jerry Burgess and wife, Alta, of Arlington; and many nieces and nephews.