Dr. Daniel Arthur Henderson

Dr. Daniel Arthur Henderson, 86, passed away on January 23, 2026, at Givens Estates Health Center in Asheville, North Carolina.

Born on July 14, 1939, in Denver, Colorado, he was the son of Dr. Samuel and Anogene (Matson) Cartin. He graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in Ottawa Hills, Ohio, and continued his education at the University of Toledo and The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where he met the love of his life, Karen.

Following graduation from dental school, Dan was commissioned as a captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps and served three years of active duty, including overseas service in Korea and later stateside at the Presidio of San Francisco. In 1967, he established a dental practice in Pacific Beach, California, where he practiced happily for 42 years. Dan and Karen raised their two children in La Jolla and later Rancho Santa Fe, California. The couple eventually moved to Givens Estates in Asheville, North Carolina, where Dan resided until his death.

Growing up in many different places—including Heidelberg, Germany, shortly after World War II, and Haleiwa, Hawaii, from 1948 to 1951—shaped Dan’s generous and expansive outlook on life. These early experiences instilled in him a lifelong love of travel, an ease in adapting to new surroundings, a deep appreciation for music and the visual arts, and a sincere interest in people from all walks of life. A natural extrovert, he struck up conversations wherever he went. He was widely loved and, through his example, taught those around him the importance of kindness. He found joy in golf and running, lively games of poker and bridge, traveling, movies, reading, and cheering on his cherished Ohio State Buckeyes.

In addition to his beloved wife of sixty years, Karen (Brooks) Henderson, Dan is survived by his daughter, Brooke Henderson, and her partner, Stephen Sirum, of Holliston, Massachusetts; his son, Dr. Shaw Henderson, and his wife, Dr. Colette Stern, of Asheville, North Carolina; his sister, Elizabeth O’Brien, of Phoenix, Arizona; and three grandchildren, Ashton Henderson, Luca Huntington, and Beckham Henderson.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at Givens Estates’ Pulliam Chapel, followed by a reception.

In lieu of flowers, donations to a charity of your choice are appreciated.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.