Steve Hensley was born on November 20th, 1942 and enjoyed all aspects of flying until his untimely death with a brain tumor on March 11, 2000.  Steve's first airplane ride was in a 4-seater when he was maybe 2 years old.  Mom and Dad had gotten jobs helping build C-54's (DC-4) at the Douglas plant near Chicago during the War.  Dad says that Steve just looked out the window exclaiming, "Looky, Looky!" the whole time they were in the air.  Steve spent the rest of his life trying to figure out how to afford to stay in the air.  He started flying clubs in college, joined the Air Force (where they made him a navigator), washed private planes for free rides at local airport, bought an old PT-26 which he flew out of the fields there in Chuckey, became an instructor, got his A & E, befriended everyone who owned a plane (usually performed their annuals for little or no cost in exchange for a set of keys and the promise that he could 'borrow' it occasionally), bought and 'fixed up' planes for resale, became proficient in all types aircraft and was certified to instruct in most anything, wrote a history book about a local aviation pioneer, E.C. Huffaker, took whole classes of kids up for free rides for his children's birthday parties, would drop whatever he was doing at any time if someone said they would like to go flying, could just sit and look at the sky for hours, did a little parachuting - in short, was involved with every aspect of flying and contributed mightily to the local and regional promotion of aviation.  Importantly for me, he is the one who looked at the farm there were the Airpark is now located and said, "Looks like a great place to build an airstrip.  Maybe you could sell a lot or two here to pilots who might want to live in East Tennessee." That was in about 1997.

One year after his death, our sister, Sherry, contacted everyone she could think of and asked that they write remembrances of his life.  As a result, many folks took time to put down a page or two. Many stories concern their flying experiences but all are enjoyable reading experiences.  Whether you knew Steve or not, you should find some pleasure in reading these stories.

Please click on one of the following links to read a remembrance of Steve. Enjoy.

Rich Andresen  -  College Buddy

Michael Babic  -  Brother-In-Law at the time

Sherry Hensley Babic  -  Sister
Story 1
Story 2

Margaret Ann Hensley Batson  -  1st Cousin

Melissa Carson  -  Friend from church

Gilbert Cintra  --Cuban College Friend

Joan Decker  -  Friend

Linda Chandley Dunford  -  1st. cousin

Jack Edens  -  Flying Buddy

Aunt Margarette Estepp  -  One of many Aunts (in-law)

Joan Estepp  -  1st cousin

Jim Estepp  -  1st Cousin

Mark Grissinger  -  Flying Buddy

Mathew Grissinger  -  Flying buddy

Patricia & Bill Gully  -  Friends

Lynette Peterson Helland  -  Friend

Jack Henry  -   Friend

Erin Hensley  -  Daughter

Ted Hensley  -  Brother
Story 1
Story 2

Theo Hensley  -  Nephew

Robie Hensley  -  Dad
Story 1
Story 2
Story 3
Story 4
Story 5


Aunt Mamie  -  Mom's Sister

Atticus Steven Hensley  -  son

Aunt Eva & Uncle Andy Hensley  -  Dad's brother & wife

Flora Joy  -  Friend

Barbara Kelly  -  Daughter-in Law's Mother

Jim Kevin  - Close Friend

Mike Kleinman  -  Friend

Billy Marsh  -  1st Cousin

Max Martinez -  Cuban College Buddy

Ken McCullough  -  Flying Buddy

Gayle McPherson -  Neighbor and Friend

Judy Pridgen -  Steve's previous wife, mother to Atticus

Tim Pruitt  - Friend

Mendy Richards  -  Friend

Richard Scull  -  Friend

Robbie Shelton  -  
4th cousin and wrote a song about Steve

Marlin H. Simon  -  Pastor and Flying Buddy

Connie Brown Sledzinski  - Friend

Scott Sweetland-  Friend and former student