Dr. Warren Robert Henderson

Dr. Warren Robert Henderson, 91, of Raleigh died on 12/22/18. He was born May 5, 1927 in West Roxbury, MA, the son of the late John I. and Elizabeth P. Henderson. Dr. Henderson grew up in West Roxbury and attended Boston public schools. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1949 with a B.S. in Horticulture. He attended Harvard University and received his M.A. in Biology in 1951. He worked for Harvard University at the Bussey Institute at Jamaica Plain, MA in Horticulture and Radiation Biology from 1951 to 1954. Dr. Henderson studied at Ohio State University where he received his Ph.D in Horticulture in 1959.

Following his Ph.D studies, he joined the faculty of the North Carolina State University in the Department of Horticultural Science where he spent the rest of his professional career in teaching and research, proceeding through the ranks to full professor. He taught courses at the two year, four year and graduate level. His research involved the genetics and breeding of vegetable crops leading to the release of several varieties of tomato and watermelon. These included the first tomato varieties resistant to southern bacterial wilt that allowed the growing of tomatoes in the semi-tropical and warm temperate regions of the world, thus improving the nutritional health of countless people around the world. The genetic studies with watermelon provided basic information which aided in the development of the seedless watermelon industry. Dr. Henderson co-founded the Cucurbit Genetics Cooperative, an international genetics organization. He retired as Professor Emeritus in 1992.

Warren enjoyed tennis and pitching horseshoes as a boy. After 50 years he began participating in each again. He competed in the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association and in the Senior Games. In the latter, he travelled to various states competing at the national level, in addition to the annual local and state level. He enjoyed travel to Europe, and on an annual basis in the summers to the Northwest for its climate, scenery and hiking and to New England to visit family and friends.

Warren is survived by his dear friend and companion, Ruth Letvinchik of Raleigh; his sister Elaine Steeger and husband Charles of Needham, MA; nephew Dean Steeger and wife Kathy of Medfield, MA; neice Carolyn Campbell and husband Jim Johnson of Bowie, MD; and niece Janet Steeger of Bellingham, MA.

Graveside service and burial will be at Forest Hills Cemetery, Forest Hills, MA.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

Arrangements through Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street., Raleigh, NC, and in Massachusetts through Folsom Funeral Service.