Carl Richard Hensler
Carl Richard Hensler, 84, of Marietta, Ohio, passed away June 5, 2016 at the OSU Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He was born July 23, 1931, in Wheeling, WV, the first of ten children born to the late Paul and Anna Hensler.
He graduated from Marietta High School in 1949. As a student there, he participated in the Future Farmers of America and went on to earn the State FFA Degree for his skill in farming. He later joined the U.S. Army and proudly served in Korea. Upon his return home, he happily returned to farming. He owned and operated Valley View Farm, home of the Marietta Tomato, until his death.
To simply say Carl was a farmer is a poor way to express what he did for the majority of his long life. After all, farming is not a job, but a way of life. He was patient, as any farmer must be in order to watch and wait for a seed planted months earlier to grow to harvest. He knew the value of hope, as all farmers know: “next year will be better.” He enjoyed simple pleasures. As a former accordion player, Carl loved to listen to polka music, and enjoyed watching the Mollie B Polka Party on television. He also delighted in driving his John Deere tractor while plowing and dreaming of the crops to come and the next harvests to gather.
Carl’s love of farming ran deep, and he was honored to instill that love of farming in his nephew, Davey, who will continue the family farm and carry on the legacy he leaves behind.
He is survived by his nephews and niece, who were more like his own children: Steve (Carol) Westfall, with their children Daniel and Laura Westfall, and Taylor and Jonathan Wood; Davey (Mandy) Westfall, with their children Jackson and Maxon Westfall; Travis (Candy) Westfall, with their children Josh, Mallory, and Cameron Westfall; and Ashley Erb, with her special friend Ben Padgitt, all of Marietta. He is also survived by his brothers: George (Patty) Hensler and Larry Hensler; his sisters Anna Marie (Bill) Ward, Eileen (Don) Brown, and Mary Erb; and numerous other nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers: Paul Hensler, Jr., David Hensler, Robert Hensler, and Daniel Hensler.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 10 at 10:00 a.m. at McClure-Schafer-Lankford Funeral Home in Marietta, with burial following at East Lawn Memorial Park. Friends may call at the funeral home on Thursday from 2-4:00 p.m. and 6-8:00 p.m. Messages of sympathy may be sent at www.Lankfordfh.com.