Raymond Waldo Henderson (1895-1918)

The son of Thomas Henderson and Elizabeth ”Lizzie” Henderson, Ralph Waldo Henderson was born on Nov. 22, 1895 in Pittsburgh. The family lived at 5414 Coral St.
After graduating from Peabody, Henderson entered Carnegie Institute of Technology (now Carnegie Mellon University), where he graduated with a B.S. in Building Construction in June 1917. While he was a student at Carnegie Tech, Henderson was a member of the Building Construction Club. He was popular with his fellow students. As the 1917 Carnegie yearbook notes, “Ray always has a smile for everyone and that probably accounts for his success with the ladies. Ray has the brains plus determination, he aims for success.”
His World War I Draft Registration Card describes Henderson as tall and slender, with black hair and brown eyes. At the time, he lived at 512 Murtland Ave.
Henderson enlisted in the army on Sept. 20, 1917. He was initially assigned to Company L, 320th Infantry, but in April 1918, he was transferred to the Intelligence Section of Division Headquarters, 80th Division and promoted to corporal.
While in France, Henderson fought in the Battle of Arras, which took place in April-May 1918, and at the Battles of Meuse-Argonne.
On Oct. 5, 1918, during the Meuse-Argonne offensive, Henderson volunteered to carry rations under fire to an advance post. He was killed by shell fire. His sister Elizabeth received the telegram.
The memorial service for Raymond Waldo Henderson was held at St. James Memorial Church, in Homewood. He is buried at the Logan Ferry (Presbyterian) Cemetery in Parnassus, Westmoreland County. The inscription on his gravestone states “He gave his all for his country.”
According to his obituary, he was survived by his four sisters: Mary Henderson Buchanan, Nancy J. Henderson Campbell, Elizabeth P. Henderson King, and Adaline A. Henderson Spuhler.