Richard Lawrence "Dick" Hensdale

Richard Lawrence “Dick” Hensdale died peacefully on May 9, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Born on September 16, 1933, in Fayetteville, North Carolina, he was the son of John William Hensdale and Annie Hampton Hensdale.

Dick grew up in Fayetteville and graduated from the Darlington School in Rome, Georgia, in 1951. He then attended High Point College, now High Point University, graduating in 1955.

In his youth, Dick spent countless hours roaming the floors of Belk-Hensdale Company department store, following, watching, and learning from his father. In his senior year of high school, he spotted and met Raye King, who was working a summer job at the store. They married four years later, in 1955, the same year Dick joined his father full-time at the original Belk Hensdale store on Hay Street in Fayetteville. Working alongside his father brought him great joy and taught him the value of building lasting relationships both in business and in life. But his best bonus of working there was finding love early on with the love of his life, Raye.

When his father retired and left the store, so did Dick. He began a second career as an independent insurance agent with Hensdale Insurance Service, and then worked with Vanstory-Exum Agency, providing both personal and commercial insurance to customers. 

In both professions, what mattered most to Dick was not simply the work itself, but the friendships and meaningful relationships he built along the way.

He was an active Rotarian for most of his professional life. He served as president of both the Fayetteville Rotary Club and the West Fayetteville Rotary Club, and was a member of the Rotary Club of the Sandhills.

Dick had a lifelong love of the outdoors, especially boating. That passion began early through his involvement in Sea Scouts and Boy Scouts, as well as summers spent at Camp Morehead.

He served as commodore of the Fayetteville Boat Club and as commander of the Fayetteville chapter of the U.S. Power Squadron, where he was also a founding member. Just as active on land as he was on the water, Dick participated enthusiastically in the Fayetteville chapter of the Sierra Club and especially enjoyed planning trips and leading club members on outdoor adventures throughout North Carolina.

Whether taking saltwater fishing trips, crewing for sailing friends, going on paddling and hiking excursions, or playing tennis and pickleball, Dick stayed active and formed fun and enduring friendships.

As a child, Dick was a charter member of Haymount Methodist Church, now Haymount United Methodist. He remained a devoted lifelong member and served faithfully in many roles, including serving on the Board of Trustees and as a Stephen Minister. Alongside his wife, Raye, he also led the church’s senior excursions group, fondly known as “The Bold and the Restless.”

Dick and Raye moved from Fayetteville to Pinehurst in 2010, where he became active at The Village Chapel and volunteered in several roles in the community. Following Raye’s death in 2014, Dick returned to Fayetteville and lived at Carolina Highlands until declining health led him to move to Charlotte to be closer to family.

In addition to his parents, Dick was preceded in death by his sisters, Frances H. Autry and Dot H. Gardner; an infant grandson, William Hensdale Shipp; and his beloved wife of 59 years, Raye King Hensdale.

He is survived by his daughters, Anne H. Hudgens (Ron) of Huntersville, NC; Jane H. Raney (Bill) of Wilmington, NC; and Jill H. Shipp (Scott) of Charlotte, NC. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Sarah H. Blanton (Chad), Elizabeth H. Aguilera (Andrew), Whitley Raney (Raul), Margaret R. Snow (Alex), Olivia Shipp, Abby Shipp, and Ethan Shipp; as well as six great-grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Lafayette Memorial Park, 2301 Ramsey Street, Fayetteville, North Carolina. Services are entrusted to Sullivan's Highland Funeral Service & Crematory.

Memorial gifts may be made to the Methodist University Hensdale Scholarship fund (Methodist University, Institutional Advancement, 5400 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, NC 28311), the Campbell University Hensdale Scholarship fund (Campbell University, Institutional Advancement, P.O. Box 125, Buies Creek, NC 27506), or to Haymount United Methodist Church, 1700 Fort Bragg Rd., Fayetteville NC 28303.