William "Bill" Truman Hensley December 2, 1938 ~ May 14, 2022 (age 83)

Obituary

William Truman “Bill” Hensley, 83, passed away on May 14, 2022 at his home in Albuquerque, NM. Bill was born in Portales, NM on December 2, 1938. In his youth, Bill worked on the family cattle ranch, was a DJ at a local radio station, and a lifeguard. Bill graduated from Eastern New Mexico University in 1961. Allergies kept him out of military service so he decided to try banking. Eventually, Bill became a Vice President at Merrill Lynch and worked in Albuquerque, El Paso, and Dallas until his retirement. Taking up running in the late 70’s, Bill became a marathon runner, participated in triathlons, and was an avid walker until a few weeks before his death. He enjoyed golf, fishing, archery (hunting as well as competition), and traveling with family and friends. He especially loved the times he and his wife, Dianne, spent in Ireland and talked often of returning there. Other adventures included exploring Greece and Alaska with his late wife Becky and their good friends the Partain’s, an archery hunting trip to New Zealand, travels to Germany and Poland, and exploring New Mexico with visitors. Bill called St. Paul Lutheran in Indiana his Church home until he and Dianne moved to New Mexico where he became an active member of Community of Joy Lutheran in Rio Rancho.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years and mother of his daughters, Rebecca “Becky” Price Hensley, his parents Elias “E.T.” and Elizabeth “Betty” Hensley, and his brother Fred Hensley.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Dianne Hensley; his daughters Lori (Steven) McKinnon, Lynne (Allen) Gibson, step-daughter Stephanie (Matt) West; grandchildren Eryn Young, Faith Gibson, Rebecca McKinnon, Braden Gibbs, Darren Gibbs, Breanna West, Gracey West and Matthew West; great-grandchildren Lane Young and Aubrey Gunn; his brother Jackson Hensley (Alice Martin); and his nieces and nephews.

When asked by his daughter what words he would use to sum up his life, he answered “Happy, happy, happy!!” Bill’s sense of humor and his caring and kind personality will be deeply missed by all who knew him. A Celebration of Life will be held at Community of Joy ELCA Lutheran Church in Rio Rancho, NM on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at 10:00 AM. A luncheon will follow the service. Internment will take place at 11:30 AM, Monday, June 27 at the family plot in Portales Cemetery. The service will stream live on YouTube: https://Worship & Music — Community of Joy Lutheran Church and the graveside service can be viewed at https://Wheeler Mortuary | Portales NM funeral home and cremation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Community of Joy, 841 Saratoga Drive NE, Rio Rancho, NM 87144, Mayberry Senior Services, 5528 Eubank Blvd NE, Ste 1, Albuquerque, NM 87111, and Roadrunner Homecare/Hospice, 4940 Corrales Road #150, Corrales, NM 87048. Roadrunner Hospice provided excellent, supportive care and Bill benefitted greatly from the time he spent with dementia care specialists at Mayberry.

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