Kathryn Hensley, 76, of Big Island, passed away on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. She was the wife of the late Earl Dean Hensley.
Kathryn was born on June 18, 1944, in New York, the daughter of the late Leonard William Shortall, Jr. and Elizabeth Roby.
She is survived by a brother, Thomas Shortall, and his wife, Alice Young, of Montclair, N.J.; a daughter, Jessie Hensley, of Paonia, Colo.; a son, Lee Hensley, and his wife, Misti Douglas Hensley, and their sons, Edward and Benjamin, of New Windsor, Md.; a nephew, Christopher Boyers, of Charlottesville, Va.; a brother-in-law, Sonny Boyers, of Harrisonburg, Va.; a niece, Amanda Young Shortall McLamb, and her husband, Phillip McLamb, and their daughters Piper and Isla, of Charlotte, N.C.; and a nephew, Stephen Young Shortall, of Los Angeles, Calif.
In addition to her husband and parents, Kathryn is preceded in death by her brother, Stephen Shortall; her sister-in-law, Kaye Boyers; her stepfather, Joseph Roby; and her stepmother, Wanda Malinowska.
Kathy was a devoted mother and grandmother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend. She loved to laugh and spend time with friends and family. She attended The Masters School and Goucher College, then earned her B.A. at American University in English. Kathy had a way with words — she was a professional editor and writer, and wrote a cookbook. She was also an avid reader, and chaired the book club at Big Island Library for 12 years. She was an accomplished artist and crafter, in painting and needlework, a masterful seamstress, and cooked healthy and delicious meals for her family. She was a participating member of Bedford Women’s Club, Lynchburg Art Club, and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. She greatly enjoyed gardening and appreciated flowers wherever she saw them. She loved movies, musicals, and animals. She was a soprano in the choir at First Presbyterian of Lynchburg. Kathy had an adventurous soul, and traveled to many countries over her lifetime.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, 2021, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Mercy Ships, PO Box 1930, Lindale, Texas, 75771; mercyships.org.
Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family.
Click here to view Kathryn’s memorial tribute video.