David R. (Dick) Hensley Jr.

April 12, 1927 – August 24, 2012

Dick Hensley was a true son of Martinsville. He was born April 12, 1927, on Main Street and loved living next to the fire station with the firemen and policemen serving as great role models. His mother, dad, six sisters and Dick enjoyed downtown Martinsville – an exciting place to live. In later years a nightly ritual was to drive through “Beautiful Downtown Martinsville.” He had many memories of Martinsville High School and football teammates who played on the old Brown Street field. During World War II he served with the U.S. Maritime Service as a Merchant Mariner. After graduation from MHS he went to the University of Richmond, where he was a four year football letterman and three year starter. He was recently honored by being inducted into The University of Richmond Athletics Hall of Fame. It was at the University of Richmond where Dick met Helen Clark of Winchester, KY. They married the year after graduation and celebrated 60 wonderful years together on June 21, 2012. Their four children, along with spouses and seven grandchildren brought tremendous pride and pleasure to their lives. After college, Dick attended the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, and was “called” to coaching and working with young people. His career as educator and coach started in Winchester, KY as head football coach and teacher, then head football coach and Commandant of Cadets at Fork Union Military Academy, head football coach and Registrar at Hargrave Military Academy, Chatham. He worked at E.I.DuPont in Martinsville, taught and coached at Martinsville High School, was head football coach at Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, then returned to Martinsville High School as head football coach, teacher and later Assistant Principal. Dick and coaching went hand in hand and friends, former players and his grandchildren called him “Coach.” In 1984, he became Headmaster of Carlisle School and in 1992, became Headmaster Emeritus. In 1992, he enjoyed entering weight lifting competitions in the 242 lb. age 65-69 division. From 1992 to 1994, he won world, national, regional and state bench press championships. A member of First Baptist Church, Martinsville, he was a lifetime deacon and enjoyed serving as lay speaker at area churches. A highlight of his life was teaching the Thursday Morning Men’s Bible Study, a non-denominational Bible study class started in 1995. He was a trustee of The Charles B. Keesee Educational Fund, former board member of the Hooker Education Foundation, Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, The Harvest Foundation, Martinsville Y.M.C.A., Salvation Army and American Red Cross. In addition to his parents, David R. and Grace Gregory Hensley, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Graeser and Emily Weick. Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Helen, and four children: son, Col David Hensley, his wife Susan, and their son Tyler of DeLand, FL; their daughter, Lauren, and husband Matt Kron of Gainesville, FL, daughter, Elizabeth(Beth) Gordon, husband George, and son Max of Midlothian, son, Jonathan Hensley, his wife Betsy, and children, Jack and Julia of Raleigh, NC, daughter, Dr. Mary Helen Hensley, and children Jemma and Jada of Athlone, Ireland; four sisters, Hazel Taylor, Martinsville, Peggy Herring, Chester, Hope Kirk, Collinsville, and Grace Taylor, Martinsville, and several nieces and nephews. The funeral service will be held at First Baptist Church of Martinsville at 11 A.M. Tuesday, with Rev. John Fulcher and Dr. Dennis Knight officiating. Interment will follow in Oakwood Cemetery, Martinsville. The family will receive friends at the church on Monday from 6 to 8:30 P.M. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 23 Starling Ave., Martinsville, 24112, Carlisle School, P.O. Box 5388, Martinsville, 24115, or Martinsville High School Athletic Department, 351 Commonwealth Blvd., Martinsville, VA 24112. McKee-Stone Funeral Home, Martinsville is in charge of arrangements, where online condolences may be made at: www.collinsmckeestonemartinsville.com.