henry deal

Henry Perry Deal CHARLOTTE - Henry Deal, age 90, one of the last of "The Greatest Generation", died on December 10, 2012. Henry was born on July 9, 1922, in Conover, NC, in the home of his parents, Jimmie Craig and Mary Holler Deal. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings, sister Rachel Morrow, and three brothers, Franklin, Richard Blair, and Gerald Deal. Henry was a newsboy from age ten through graduation from eleventh grade at Newton-Conover High School in 1939; afterward, he spent a year in business school. Mr. Deal entered the United States Army in December 1942, serving in the cadre of Fort Jackson as a teletyper, finishing only basic training in riflery as time permitted. After applying as an air force pilot, he was rejected upon the discovery that he had a minute degree of color blindness. Once a corporal, he forfeited this rank to accept entrance into the Army Specialized Training Program, attending school at what is now Auburn University for a brief period before the program was disbanded as war strategy changed. He then became a member of the 106th Infantry Division, which was mobilized from various personnel across the country. Henry served in the headquarters of the 424th Regiment, spending nearly a year overseas. During this time he was awarded the Bronze Star for service during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944. Discharged in December 1945, he next entered what is now Kansas State University for a year and a half, transferring to the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill) from which he was graduated in 1949 with a degree in accounting. Henry was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma honor societies; he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Mr. Deal became a certified public accountant and served nearly thirty-three years as a financial and tax specialist with Belk Stores Services in Charlotte before leaving to establish his own tax and accounting service. Henry was a fifty-year member of the American Institute and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants, serving a term as President of the Charlotte Area Chapter. In 1959, he met and soon married Karen Jensen, and they had five sons. An Eagle Scout himself from Troop 1, Conover, Henry served Troop 17 in Charlotte as Treasurer in the 1970's and 80's. During this time, his and Mrs. Deal's five sons each attained the rank of Eagle Scout, and in 2011 their eldest grandson also became an Eagle. Mr. Deal was a sixty-year member of the YMCA, where he participated in fundraising and enjoyed volleyball and handball, and was an active member of Indian Guides, serving a term as Federation Chief. As an early cabin owner on Lake Norman, Henry enjoyed gardening and slalom skiing until his late seventies. He also enjoyed snow skiing until he "hit the wall" at age eighty. His real passion in life, however, was duplicate bridge, and he was a regular and active member of the Charlotte Bridge Association where he attained the rank of Diamond Life Master. Mr. Deal is survived by his wife of 53 years, Karen, and sons, Henry, Jr. (Pel), Norman, Svend and Frank, his wife Lanier (Peaches), their son, Robert, and two daughters, Maren and Mary Carver, of Charlotte; Kris, his wife Susan, and their three sons, Connor, John, and Jim of Culpeper, Va. Also surviving are special "granddaughters," Hope and Emma Nicholson, as well as several special nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. The family would like to thank Dr. Marvin Shapiro and his staff for 39 years of excellent care and friendship and the caregivers at Sardis Oaks for their compassionate and attentive care during the final days of Henry's life, for them we are eternally grateful. A celebration of life will be held Friday, December 14, 2012 at 11:00 am at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 101 Randolph Road in Charlotte. Family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church. Burial will be held privately at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church, the YMCA of Greater Charlotte or the Charlotte Bridge Association. Harry & Bryant Company is serving the family.