1935
Earl
2015
Earl Dean Hensley
March 14, 1935 — March 5, 2015
Earl Dean (“Dean”) Hensley passed away after a long illness on March 5, 2015. He was born on March 14, 1935, to parents Darwin L. Hensley and Mary Virginia “Jimmie” Chapman Hensley in Big Island, Va.
In addition to his parents, Dean was predeceased by his sister, Nyla Kayren “Kaye” Hensley Boyers.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kathryn Shortall Hensley; daughter, Jessica V. Hensley; son, Lee S. Hensley (Misti); brothers-in-law, Sonny Boyers and Thomas Shortall (Alice); grandsons, Benjamin Hensley and Edward Hensley; nephews, Edward Boyers (Jessi), Christopher Boyers, Stephen Shortall; and niece, Amanda Young Shortall McLamb (Phillip).
Dean was a veteran of the Korean War, serving as a medical corpsman in the U.S. Air Force from 1954–1958. He held a B.A. from Lynchburg College, with a major in History and minors in English and Drama; a Master’s degree from the University of Virginia in Counseling and Secondary Education, certified to teach secondary English; and a doctorate from the George Washington University in Behavioral Science and Counseling.
He taught and counseled at the secondary level and was an instructor at the university level, ending his career in education as an administrator at a large suburban high school. In addition, Dean was a one-third partner of Commonwealth Consulting & Counseling in Virginia Beach, Va. during the mid-70s and early 80s.
Dean spent more than a decade working in theater, primarily with the Fisherman’s Players of Cape Cod, Mass. as an actor, director, and producer. He wrote many poems, song lyrics, and three novels. He was interested in philosophy, psychology, and comparative religion. He said, “I had a large curiosity and worrisome intuition. I tried not to waste my time, though I did spend a lot of time dancing.”
Since his retirement in 1993, Dean found service to and association with the First Unitarian Church of Lynchburg to be of great solace. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to that church at 818 Court St., Lynchburg, VA 24504.
A celebration of Dean’s life will be held at 2 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Lynchburg on Saturday, March 14, 2015, with Rev. Paul Boothby officiating.
The family is grateful for the excellent care given to Dean both at the Lynchburg General Hospital MICU and at Centra Specialty Hospital.
Finally, in Dean’s own words—“I have asked that those who survive me reduce me to ashes…Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. I’ve told them where my first memories can be found:
Faces of people I’ve loved;
hymns sung by a Baptist choir;
the warmth of a lap,
the lull of a porch swing–
un-oiled chains on rusted hooks,
the nuzzle of a dog’s warm nose.
Roy playing his fiddle,
Blue Ridge tunes–
Scottish and Irish,
reels and jigs–
the ingredients of my soul.
There my ashes are,
to be thrown into the wind
where they will dance with joy
to fiddle and banjo tunes.”
Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424.
Click here to watch the Memorial Video
In addition to his parents, Dean was predeceased by his sister, Nyla Kayren “Kaye” Hensley Boyers.
He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Kathryn Shortall Hensley; daughter, Jessica V. Hensley; son, Lee S. Hensley (Misti); brothers-in-law, Sonny Boyers and Thomas Shortall (Alice); grandsons, Benjamin Hensley and Edward Hensley; nephews, Edward Boyers (Jessi), Christopher Boyers, Stephen Shortall; and niece, Amanda Young Shortall McLamb (Phillip).
Dean was a veteran of the Korean War, serving as a medical corpsman in the U.S. Air Force from 1954–1958. He held a B.A. from Lynchburg College, with a major in History and minors in English and Drama; a Master’s degree from the University of Virginia in Counseling and Secondary Education, certified to teach secondary English; and a doctorate from the George Washington University in Behavioral Science and Counseling.
He taught and counseled at the secondary level and was an instructor at the university level, ending his career in education as an administrator at a large suburban high school. In addition, Dean was a one-third partner of Commonwealth Consulting & Counseling in Virginia Beach, Va. during the mid-70s and early 80s.
Dean spent more than a decade working in theater, primarily with the Fisherman’s Players of Cape Cod, Mass. as an actor, director, and producer. He wrote many poems, song lyrics, and three novels. He was interested in philosophy, psychology, and comparative religion. He said, “I had a large curiosity and worrisome intuition. I tried not to waste my time, though I did spend a lot of time dancing.”
Since his retirement in 1993, Dean found service to and association with the First Unitarian Church of Lynchburg to be of great solace. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to that church at 818 Court St., Lynchburg, VA 24504.
A celebration of Dean’s life will be held at 2 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Lynchburg on Saturday, March 14, 2015, with Rev. Paul Boothby officiating.
The family is grateful for the excellent care given to Dean both at the Lynchburg General Hospital MICU and at Centra Specialty Hospital.
Finally, in Dean’s own words—“I have asked that those who survive me reduce me to ashes…Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust. I’ve told them where my first memories can be found:
Faces of people I’ve loved;
hymns sung by a Baptist choir;
the warmth of a lap,
the lull of a porch swing–
un-oiled chains on rusted hooks,
the nuzzle of a dog’s warm nose.
Roy playing his fiddle,
Blue Ridge tunes–
Scottish and Irish,
reels and jigs–
the ingredients of my soul.
There my ashes are,
to be thrown into the wind
where they will dance with joy
to fiddle and banjo tunes.”
Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, (434) 237-9424.
Click here to watch the Memorial Video
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Earl Dean Hensley, please visit our flower store.
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