Blanche Penland Hensley

Blanche Penland Hensley, 91, of Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, died Thursday, July 9, 2009 after a valiant fight against congestive heart failure. Born in Weaverville, NC on May 4, 1918, she was a daughter of the late Robert Alexander and Mary Ada Hunsucker Penland. She was also preceded in death by her first husband, Harold Palmer Morris; her second husband, Donald Lee Hensley; one brother, Peter Sanders Penland; two sisters, Augusta Bradley and Kathleen Kyles and one step-daughter, Sherry Lambert Hensley Munday. She graduated from Asheville Teachers' College and took courses towards a Masters Degree from UNC-Chapel Hill. She taught third grade for many years at Ira B. Jones School, from where she retired. She was active in the Country Club of Asheville, where she was an active golf and tennis player. She was also a member of the Gardinier's Garden Club. She is survived by one daughter, Jan Morris Swanson and her husband, Robbie and their son, Hal, all of Columbia, SC; one step-son, Donald B. "Doc" Hensley and his wife, Fran, of Asheville; six step-grandchildren, Robert Swanson of Columbia, SC, Hunter Swanson Deysach and her husband, Ian, of Beaufort, SC, Beach Hensley and his wife, Lindsay, of Asheville, Taylor Loomis of Seattle, WA, John Loomis and his wife, Sareena, of San Francisco, CA and Greg Loomis of Boulder, CO. The family would like to thank the staffs of Deerfield and CarePartners Hospice for their love and care. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at Central United Methodist Church with Reverend Rob Blackburn officiating. Interment will follow in the Central United Methodist Church Memorial Garden. The family will receive friends following the service in the church courtyard. Memorial donations may be made to Central United Methodist Church, 27 Church Street, Asheville, NC 28801.