Baker City, Oregon
Ralph Vernon Hensley, 88, a longtime Baker City resident, died Nov. 5, 2004. at St. Elizabeth Health Services.
His funeral will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Gray’s West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave. Vault interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Ralph Holcomb of the Christian Church will officiate.
Friends are invited to join the family afterward for a reception at the Christian Church Fellowship Hall, 2998 Eighth St.
Visitations will be until 8 o’clock tonight at Gray’s West & Co.
Ralph was born on July 17, 1916, at New Bridge to Benjamin and Cora Jamison Hensley.
He graduated from Richland High School. He worked for the railroad for three years and then worked for the creamery at Richland.
He joined the U.S. Army on April 7, 1942. Ralph worked in the Second Field Hospital taking care of the wounded. He was in New Zealand, Australia, New Guinea and the Philippians. He was on nine different ships and flew on seven planes before being honorably discharged on June 6, 1945.
After returning home, Ralph worked for George Reed Logging and for Mel Hess. Then he worked at the Chemical Lime Plant for 14 years until it shut down.
After the plant closed, he went to work for the U.S. Forest Service on the Wallowa-Whitman Road Crew for 10 years. He retired on July 17, 1982.
Ralph and his wife, Theora, traveled for two years after retirement. Ralph liked to hunt deer, elk and birds. He also loved to go fishing.
Ralph was baptized on Feb. 11, 2001, at Baker Christian Church. He loved the Lord.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and all of his brothers and sisters, May Holland, Nettie Bloomer, Moscoe Hensley, Logan Hensley and Jack Hensley.
Survivors include his wife, Theora, of 43 years; sisters-in-law, Ramona Tony Sturgil of Fort Jones, Calif., Ginny Bryant of Baker City, Evelyn Beverage of Union, Leslie Hurse of Pendleton, Theona Hambleton of Baker City, and Helen Alexander of Astoria; and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Christian Church Building Fund through Gray’s West & Co., P.O. Box 726, Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, November 12, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor