History & Staff

About Us | Rader Funeral Homes (Longview – Henderson)

History & Staff

Ever since we opened our doors we have approached life (and death) differently. While some just see the end of a loved one’s life as a time for grief and mourning, we prefer to think of it as a time for reflection, appreciation and even celebration. This is evident in everything we do, from the way we conduct our services to the amenities we choose to offer. We aren't just a funeral home. We are a close knit community dedicated to honoring, sharing and preserving the amazing and inspirational stories that are life.

Why Us?

In a nutshell? Experience, professionalism, compassion, and empathy.

We've learned a lot over many years. Like how to present options without overwhelming. And how to meet the needs of many caring parties. People come to us in difficult times, and we respond kindness, calmness and expertise. Our goal is to create a beautiful occasion and make you feel welcome, always. We spend our days planning with families. We stay up to date with industry developments. And we make hard times a little easier.

The Rader family tradition of service now spans four generations, and dates to the late 1920’s when LeRoy Rader was a young man living in Illinois with the desire to become a mortician.

After working in Paris for just a few years, LeRoy decided to move his family, which now included a young son, Charley to Longview where he began working for Welch Funeral Home. After only two years, Thomas Welch asked LeRoy to manage the Everett and Welch Funeral Home in Gladewater, Texas. In 1938, LeRoy and Thomas Welch formed a partnership and opened Welch and Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore, Texas. Shortly thereafter, LeRoy purchased his partner’s interest in the funeral home to create Rader Funeral Home of Kilgore, an East Texas landmark still operating today.

In 1953, LeRoy purchased a funeral home on North Fredonia Street adjacent to First United Methodist Church in Longview. He asked his son, Charley, who had just graduated from North Texas State University to manage the newly acquired funeral home. In 1954, Charley and his wife, Betty moved to Longview, where they became very active community supporters.

In 1970 property was purchased on Judson Road and in February of 1971 a beautiful new Rader Funeral Home was opened at 1617 Judson Road and the former location was purchased by the First United Methodist Church.

In 1981, Betty and Charley’s son, Charles returned to work after graduating from Texas Tech University and Dallas Institute of Funeral Service. He is now co-owner, President and General Manager of the Rader Companies. In 1984, their daughter, Lynn Martin came to work to help in Marketing and Public Relations.

In 1989, they opened Rosewood Park, a perpetual care cemetery and mausoleum in North Longview.

And in 2006 an opportunity presented itself and Charles and his wife, Lacy opened Charles Rader Funeral Home and Cremation Services, LLC in Henderson, Texas. A beautiful 10,000 sq. ft. facility designed to serve the Henderson and Rusk County area.

Their son, Preston returned to work in January 2011 after graduating from Texas Tech University. A licensed funeral director, he is a graduate of Commonwealth Institute of Funeral Service and is active in Longview and Henderson community. And in 2016, his wife, Erika became our Community Relations Coordinator and is very active in both communities as well.