Robert Earl Henderson, 97, of Decatur, Georgia, was very loved and passed on April 5, 2019 after a rapid 2 week decline. He was born June 5, 1921, in Atlanta, Georgia, to Marshall Columbus Henderson and Annie Bell Reese. Robert believed in a life of honest work. A Christian, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and employer. He was self-educated. He remembered the great depression, but never complained and instead focused on what they were able to do with what they had. At age 20, He married Miss Catherine Matilda Cook, 15, on November 22, 1941. They were married for 72 years until her passing from Alzheimer's. He cared for her until the very end. He served honorably as a Navy Seaman on the USS Delong during World War II. He was first made a Mason in his heart and then initiated into Freemasonry, as an Entered Apprentice, at Glenwood Hills Lodge #703 in Decatur, GA on 18th November 1958. He was subsequently Passed to the Degree of Fellowcraft on 13th January 1959 and then Raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on 27th January 1959. He was also a Shriner of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine for North America. For 25 years, he worked in refrigeration for Colonial Stores. The proud owner of Snapfinger Auto Service Center for 50 years with his son Doyle. He owned the property which also had a separate building for his wife's beauty salon, Bazaar Hair Fashion. He sold the property and retired in 2018. Even into his eighties, he could be found climbing ladders and addressing maintenance concerns on top of the building. In 1993, he suffered a heart attack that resulted in a quadruple bypass, not wanting to interrupt the special occasion he was at, he left quietly and drove himself to the hospital, arriving just in time! He cared deeply for his family. He enjoyed writing poetry and kept a notepad in his pocket for his current project. The highlight of Christmas time was his unique drawings he would place on the outside of envelopes. He is survived by two children: Joan (Michael) Hagan of Summerville, GA, and Jean (Jimmy) Hazlerigs of Loganville, GA. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren: Sean Clay, Shannon Stewart, Robin Henderson, and Jena (Jason) Carver; 10 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great granddaughter. He was predeceased in 2014 by Catherine Matilda Cook, his loving wife of 72 years; son, Doyle Earl Henderson, 2016 of Conyers, GA; granddaughter, Tonya Henderson Iverson, 2012 of Conyers, GA; and siblings, Lowell, 1985; Urdis, 2009; Ruby, 1989; Nellie, 1982; Joe, 1974; George, 1918; Lowell, 2018; Herman, 1993; Jack, 1935. A funeral service will be held 2 o'clock, Saturday, April 13, in the chapel of Henry Funeral Home with Rev. Lester Cooper officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Memorial Gardens with military honors. The family will receive friends from 12:30-2:00PM prior to the service at Henry Funeral Home, Lithonia. 770-482-4411, henryfuneral.com