The Rev. Ralph Hensley, 90, of Silver City, entered the presence of the Lord on August 7, 2016.
Ralph was born on June 3, 1926, in Coal Grove, Ohio, to Mary Goldie Weeks and Frank Joseph Hensley.
His father, a carpenter by trade, moved the family to the Kanawha Valley of West Virginia, where opportunities for work were more plentiful.
Ralph and his siblings Harold, Francis, Emil, and Norman were raised in Reed, West Virginia, a coal mining town.
Beginning at age 12, Ralph delivered newspapers in Reed, and did so for the biggest part of three years. He bought his own clothes with his earnings and after collecting on Saturdays he often treated himself to a piece of pie and a horseback ride at the Kanawha City riding stables. His paper route included the Shannon family whose daughter Weedie would catch his eye a few years later.
Ralph worked after school and weekends at the company store. For three summers during his youth he worked on steamboats on the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers.
At age 16 with 1000 hours training as a machinist helper, Ralph went to work at the shipyard of Newport News, Virginia. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served 30 months in the south Pacific with the 39th Seabees. In 1944 the airstrip on Saipan where he was working came under fierce enemy fire. Ralph turned to God for protection and prayed; "Lord if you get me out of this mess, I will serve you the rest of my life."
A few years later during a revival service at the Reed Presbyterian Church on October 31, 1947, Ralph accepted Jesus as his Savior and Lord. Ralph considered this as the major turning point in his life. A week earlier the wedding of Ralph Hensley and Mary Elizabeth Shannon had been held at this same church.
Called to the ministry in 1949, Ralph prepared for the task by graduating from Davis and Elkins College in Elkins, W.V. in 1952, and furthering his education with ministerial studies at Louisville Theological Seminary in Kentucky, 1958-1961. During his 50 years of ministry, Ralph pastored churches in Kentucky, Ohio, Kansas, and Cotton City and Cliff, New Mexico. Ralph served as Executive Director of the Southwest Christian Center at Buckhorn, NM.
Ralph enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War and served as a chaplain to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Division of U. S. Marine Corps. Staying at the command post was not considered an option in Ralph's mind as he saw his troops advancing toward the enemy and putting their lives on the line. He advanced with the men, earning the nickname Muddy Boots as his boots caked with mud revealed his dedication to serving his troops in all circumstances. During one such troop advancement, 115 men made decisions to follow Jesus Christ and received New Testaments and Holy Communion from their faithful chaplain.
His love and his godly influence will be treasured by his family, including his wife of 68 years, Mary, and their four children and families. They are: son Michael and Diana Hensley of Belen, Abraham Hensley and Cheri Krelic, Samuel and Denisse Hensley, Monica, Marques, and Allana Hidalgo, Gilbert Flores, and Angelina, Justin, Jace, Austin, and Benton Barba; their daughter Chris and Len Bunts of Buckhorn; their daughter Michelle and Bob Detterick of Silver City, Diana and Andrew Scowcroft, and Mark, Tona, Grace, Nicolas, and Madilyn Detterick; and their daughter Cathy and David Dellinger of Newton, Kansas, Keli, Drew, and Summer Hansen, Katie and Vernon Gaston, David Dellinger, and Daniel Dellinger.
A Private Family Graveside service with military honors will be held on Thursday August at Fort Bayard. Friends are invited to join the family at a Celebration of Life service at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Cliff on Friday, August 12 at 3 pm. David Goble will officiate the service.
Bright Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, "Traditional Services and Care for your family and friends", 210 W. College Ave., Silver City, New Mexico 88061, 575-388-1911.
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