His parents, George J. and Victoria (Lavigne) Henault, welcomed their son into the world on December 15, 1936, in Keene, NH. Richard was a 1954 graduate of Keene High School.
Richard’s work career began with his first job at the National Grange Mutual Insurance Company. This job brought him much happiness and blessings, for you see it was here that he met his future wife, Barbara Murray.
He later worked for ten years at the former Princess Shoe Company, and six years with the Prudential Insurance Company. He later owned the Keene Food Mart located in Central Square in Keene for a brief time. He would often donate fruit baskets from the store during Christmas time to benefit others in need.
Richard retired as a manager from the former Schleicher and Schuell Company after fifteen years of service with them.
A hard worker, sometimes Richard would work three jobs just to ensure his family was well cared for. During his retirement, he continued to work part-time for ten years at the Cheshire Medical Center in their gift shop.
When not hard at work, he enjoyed bowling, participating in local leagues; softball as a member of the Over-The-Hill-Gang; golfing with his sons; traveling; and listen to music, especially the "Big Band" music.
With a twinkle in his eye, he enjoyed playing the Santa for the Mayflower Drive neighborhood children as well as for all of the visitors at the Colony Mill in Keene.
He will be greatly missed by many, especially his children, Teri Boudreau and her husband, John, of Swanzey, NH, Stephen Henault and his wife, Cindy, of Sullivan, NH, Deb Whalen and her husband, Ed, of Keene, Jeff Henault and his wife, Jill Vranicar, of Eliot, ME, Chris Henault, of St. Petersburg, FL; his grandchildren, Lisa Perkins, of Oakland, CA, Tom Perkins and his wife, Michelle, of Swanzey, NH, Rebecca Dubois and her husband, Marcus, of Sullivan, Courtney Henault and her significant other, Justin Young, of Bennington, NH, Chelsea Blanchard and her husband, Scott, of Keene, Nick Whalen, of Keene; his great-grandchildren, Chase Perkins, Willow Perkins, Karsyn Mooney, Jayce Young, Bensyn Young, Porter Moore, Elijah Dubois, and two more on the way; and his niece, Susan Soraghan, of Atkinson, NH. Richard was predeceased by his wife of 63 years, Barbara A. (Murray) Henault, on October 13, 2020.
A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at 11:00am in St. Bernard Church, 185 Main Street, Keene. Burial with committal prayers will follow in the Monadnock View Cemetery, Park Avenue, Keene. Family and friends are invited to call on Tuesday evening from 5:00 to 7:00pm in the Foley Funeral Home, 49 Court Street, Keene. All those in attendance at the calling hours are required to wear facemasks. Thank you.
Richard shared Barbara’s dedication to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In lieu of flowers, for those who wish, donations may be made in his memory to the Tribute Program St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
