Obituary: Henry Salter

Obituary by McAlister-Smith Funeral Home

Henry Denning Salter, Jr., 86, widower of Rachel Livingston Salter, died on December 22, 2012, in Summerville. A memorial service will be held on January 5, 2013, at 2 pm, in the chapel at the Village at Summerville, 201 W. 9th North St., Summerville, SC.

Henry was born March 6, 1926, in Florence, SC, a son of Henry D. Salter and Evelyn Lea Salter. He graduated from Walterboro High School in 1943, and received a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson College in 1949. He served in the US Navy during WWII, and continued in the Naval Reserves for 20 years, retiring as a Commander. Henry retired from Southern Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command as Director of the Facilities Division in 1985. He then worked for five years as a civil engineer for Davis & Floyd. 

Henry gained great fulfillment from his volunteer work. He served as an elder in local Presbyterian churches for over 50 years, initially at Second Presbyterian Church in Charleston, and then as a founding elder of Westminster Presbyterian Church, and later at First (Scots) Presbyterian and Summerville Presbyterian Churches. He was a life member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and Sertoma International, was organizing chairman of the Sandhurst Civic Association, former chairman of the Wappoo Heights Civic Association and Wappoo Creek Place Owners Association. He delivered Meals on Wheels in Charleston and Summerville, served at the Crisis Ministries Soup Kitchen and Shelter, and tutored for Trident Literacy and local elementary and high schools. 

Henry enjoyed model ship building, gardening, traveling and playing golf. He and Rachel cherished wonderful memories of their friends at the Charleston Country Club, where they were members for many years.

Henry is survived by his brother, Eugene Lea Salter, of Campobello, SC; son Dr. Henry Denning Salter, III, and wife Carol, of Clemson, SC; son Thomas Carlisle Salter and wife Dana, of James Island; daughter Rebecca Salter Westfall and husband Bill, of Summerville. He is survived by 9 grandchildren: Sarah Westfall Brown of Rock Hill, SC; Wm. Paul Westfall of Summerville; Dr. Alice Bryn Salter of Charleston; Dr. Kelly Salter Acharya of Durham, NC; Lane Livingston Salter of Crofton, MD; Isaac Hamilton Salter of Clemson; Chandler Lea Salter, Courtney Marie Salter, and Caroline McLeod Salter, all of James Island. Henry is also survived by three great-grandchildren: Garrett Denning Brown, Keller Bryan Brown and Emma Kathryn Brown, all of Rock Hill, SC.

The family is grateful for the compassionate care and warm sense of community he experienced during his seven years living at the Village at Summerville, especially during his last year in the Pride Unit.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Village at Summerville, designated for the Employee Appreciation Fund or Mother’s Day Offering, 201 W 9th North St. Summerville, SC, 29483 or Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St., Suite 200, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.