Burke Hensley

Burke Hensley of Banning, California died at home, surrounded by family on October 27, 2012. His full life spanned eighty-eight years, beginning at Warner, Oklahoma, on January 3,1924. His parents, Arthur and Lilly, brought Burke and his three older brothers to California during the Dust Bowl years, providing experiences that instilled values of hard work, perseverance, generosity, and kindness. Burke graduated from Coachella High School and served in the United States Army, 394th Infantry, Ninety- Ninth Division. He was very proud of his training as an airborne division paratrooper. In 1945 he married Wanda Lee Kennedy with whom he had three sons: Randy of New York City, Gerale of Williams, Arizona, and Rick of Post Falls, Idaho. Burke earned his living as salesman in a variety of industries and as a skilled craftsman. After the death of his first wife, Burke met and married Donna Currier with whom he shared some of the happiest years of his life and who provided him with additional family: Tod of Banning and his wife , Sue, and Christine of Whittier. Altogether he embraced a talented group of grand and great grandchildren: Kevin, Alex, Julie, Cassie, Cherise, Amber, and Angel. He is also survived by sisters-in-law Mildred McIntyre of Banning and Georgia Kennady of Hemet and her family. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, November 1, 2012 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park & Mortuary, 69855 E. Ramon Road, Cathedral City, California. .Visitation is at 9:00a.m with the funeral service at 10:a.m., followed by a reception at 11:a.m., and a short interment service at 2:00p.m., at Coachella Valley Cemetery, Jackson Street and 52nd Avenue, Coachella.