Henry Lewis "Hank" Federal

1952 - 2022

Henry "Hank" Lewis Federal
March 9, 1952 - July 22, 2022
Charlotte, North Carolina - Henry "Hank" Lewis Federal passed away peacefully after a short illness with his loving family by his side, on Friday, July 22, 2022. A native of Charlotte, NC Hank was born on March 9, 1952 to the late William Aubrey Federal and Eva Johnson Federal, one of six children.
Hank graduated from Charlotte Catholic High School where he lettered in football and basketball. He then graduated from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1974 with a BA in Economics. Basketball was his love and he played on Dean Smith's UNC freshman team.
Upon graduation Hank moved to the thriving town of North Wilkesboro where he landed his first job as personnel officer at Northwestern Bank.
In 1977 he returned to Charlotte and became a human resource business partner at First Union National Bank. His boss was John Guiton who became his mentor and later his father-in-law. He met the love of his life, Jan Guiton in 1978 and they were married in 1980. They would have celebrated their 42 this August 23.
Because First Union had a nepotism policy Hank had to leave the Charlotte bank. So he and Jan moved to Winston-Salem where he worked in compensation at Wachovia Bank. They spent 3 fun years there then made a big change and moved to Miami, FL where he worked at Southeast Banking Corporation. Their first son, John, was born there in January 1984. They missed home and the green grass and changing of the seasons. So after three years, returned to Charlotte and here is where they have stayed. Their second son, Alex, was born in April, 1987.
Hank worked in Compensation and Benefits at the Hay Group and then was Manager of Human Resource Services at Harris Teeter. He was a partner at Findley Davies and finally opened his own Compensation
Consulting firm, HLF Rewards, until he retired in 2017.
Hank was the Chairman of the Board of Hospice and Palliative Care- Charlotte Region. He was also in the first class of Leadership Charlotte.
He believed in hard work, fairness and earning your keep. He was not only a thinker but wise in the ways of life and business. He spoke truth to people, not always when they wanted to hear but what they needed at that very moment. It is said that some people see the glass half full, and others half empty. Many would agree that Hank's glass was always overflowing.
It has been said by those who loved him that he was a "friends friend." That was his Gift and he had so many "Best Friends." When you were down, he would lift you up, sometimes shaking you by the shoulders to get you out of your self-pity as he did so. He had an opinion about almost everything, even if it wasn't mainstream ideologue, But he could laugh at himself even when he was "swimming against the tide." Whatever life threw at him, he grabbed it, put his head down, and charged ahead accepting it with laughter, and a can-do attitude.
Hank loved Golf â€" He loved to play it, talk about it, watch it live at tournaments or on TV, read about it, and wear shirts and hats with golf logos. But what he loved most was playing with 2 different men's golf groups every year. He was lovingly named the "Commissioner" for over 30 years of the "Sweater Vest Invitational" (SVI) The 8 friends played at Pinehurst, Figure 8, Streamsong, Primland, Eagle Point just to name a few. And every spring he played with friends he had known since grade school in Asheville and called their merry foursome the Altar Boy Open.
He was previously a member at Carmel Country Club and enjoyed playing golf there and he had many fun matches during the week with the Men's Golf Association at Cedarwood. Also at Cedarwood, he enjoyed Christian fellowship on Monday mornings with the Search Men's Group. And every other Tuesday he could be seen with seven of his retired friends enjoying lunch at various diners and dives all over the Queen City.
Above all, Hank loved his family. He was so proud of his two boys and loved watching their many athletic games. Alex playing football and lacrosse. John playing baseball and soccer. He enjoyed hearing John's bands play in different venues. But he mostly just enjoyed spending time with them, talking and sharing ideas. The boys always came to him for advice and they respected and admired him and valued his opinion. And when they became fathers he was the first to congratulate them and was so proud and excited to be called "Pop." He adored his three grandchildren and was a hands-on grandfather. He loved to take them to the to park or on picnics and he made even a walk down the street to the mailbox seem like an exciting adventure hunting for bears or alligators
In his last days a friend asked Hank what he could do for him. Hank smiled and responded " Just Love your Family."
Hank and his wife, Jan loved to travel. They enjoyed trips to London, Denmark, Sweden, Hawaii, Bermuda and Aruba. They took an incredible riverboat cruise down the Seine for Jan's 60th birthday. They enjoyed many summers in Blowing Rock, NC. Last summer they traveled across America for two months in Jan's Honda CRV and saw many fabulous sites, marveling at this beautiful and unique country God has created.
Hank is survived by his wife, Jan. His sons John Aubrey (Andi) Federal, William Alexander (Tiz) Federal. Granddaughters Charlie Federal, Tilly Federal and Grandson Henry. Brothers Aubrey (Gaby) Federal,
Chuck Federal, Brian (Tara) Federal. Sisters Peg (Dick) Supinski, Miriam (Randy) Nicklaus. And 7 nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Hank's life will be held Saturday July 30, 2022 at
2:00 pm at Quail Hollow Presbyterian Church, 8801 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210 Followed by a reception at Johnson Hall. The service will be livestreamed at : https://youtu.be/FuvBJka0XP8 or from the
church's website: QHPC.org.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care â€" Charlotte Region, 7845 Little Ave. Charlotte, NC 28226.
Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC; 28204 (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.