Rae Henderson Obituary

Henderson
Rae Ann Henderson
January 12, 1955
July 30, 2024

Rae Henderson passed away peacefully in her home on July 30, 2024. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend. Rae was born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, January 12, 1955 to Eldon and Phyllis (Moss) Berry. She grew up in Security, Colorado and graduated from Widefield High School in that city. After high school, she joined the United States Navy and spent the next twenty years in the service of her country. She first served at Naval Air Station, Jacksonville, Florida in the personnel office. There, she met and married Thomas Bracken. That union produced a son, Chris. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in divorce seven years later. Next, she was sent to Navy Classifier School, for further transfer to Navy Recruiting District Denver, Colorado as an enlisted classifier, a job normally held by a more senior person. Not only did she Excell at the job, but was twice named Classifier of the year. It was in Denver that she met Bob Henderson. They married in June, 1983, a union that lasted until her death. In 1982, as the first women in history were starting to be assigned to active Navy ships, Rae was proudly one of the first to go, as she reported aboard USS Prairie (AD-15) as personnel office leading petty officer. For most of her time, three years, aboard Prairie, her husband, a Navy Warrant Officer, was stationed aboard the USS Peleliu. They saw little of each other during this time. In 1985, she transferred to Naval Military Personnel Command, Washington D.C... In 1988 to USS Puget Sound AD-38), and her last tour was as assistant Personnel Officer, personnel support detachment Denver, Colorado, where she retired in November 1994. While in the Navy she traveled extensively with ports of call in Hawaii, Japan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Tasmania, Iceland and the Azores. She entered the Domain of the Golden Dragon and became a Trusty Shellback by crossing both the international date line and the equator.
Along with Bob, Rae is also survived by her son Chris (Christy) Bracken of Winston Salem, her father Eldon Berry of Security, Colorado, her brother John (Ellen) Berry of Grand Junction, Colorado. She also leaves behind her grandson Chase Bracken of the United States Marine Corps and her granddaughter Jordan Bracken of Winston Salem.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 PM on Friday, August 2, 2024 at J.C. Green and Sons Funeral Home, 10301 N. NC Hwy 109, Winston-Salem, NC. A graveside service will be held at the Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.jcgreenandsons.com