The Honorable (Ret.) Judge Jos Louis Hensley Obituary (1926

The Honorable Joseph Louis Hensley, (Ret.) Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court for Jefferson & Switzerland Counties, entered this life on March 19, 1926, in Bloomington, Indiana, the son of Ralph Raymond & Frances Mae Wilson Hensley, both of whom preceded him in death. He was raised in Bloomington and was a 1944, graduate of University High School. He was raised in the Catholic faith and was Baptized in 1940, by the Bishop of Indianapolis. He was inducted into the United States Navy during World War II, rising to the rank of Pharmacist Mate 3rd Class, serving in the Navy Hospital Corpsman, he was honorably discharged. He was later inducted into the Navy again serving during the Korean War rising to the rank of Journalist 3rd Class, and was honorably discharged. He received his BA in 1950 from Indiana University and his LLB from Indiana University School of Law in 1955. While at IU he was a member of Theta Chi Social & Delta Theta Phi Legal Fraternities. In his final law school year he was president of the Indiana University Law Club, student body organization of the law school. On June 18, 1950, in Tell City, Indiana, he was united in marriage to Charlotte Ruth Bettinger, to this union arrived one son to bless their home. He moved to Madison in 1955, after his graduation from law school and began his practice. He sometimes fondly said that he moved to Madison as soon as he heard about it. He served one term in the Indiana General Assembly in 1961-1962, representing Jefferson & Scott Counties. He was then elected prosecuting attorney for Jefferson & Switzerland Counties, Fifth Judicial Circuit, and served from 1963 to 1966. In 1975 he was appointed Judge pro tem of the Ripley Circuit Court by the Indiana Supreme Court and thereafter, while serving, was elected and served two terms as Judge of the Fifth Judicial Circuit from 1977 through 1988. He served two years as president of the Indiana Judges Association. In 1998, he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by then Indiana Governor Frank O'Bannon. In that same year Mayor Al Huntington named him one of "Madison's Magnificents." He was also a Kentucky Colonel and an honorary member of the Louisville Singing Fund. He was a member & Past Exalted Ruler of the Madison Elks Lodge #524; Madison Moose Lodge #765; Jefferson Post 9, of the American Legion; the Indiana Bar Association; the Jefferson County Bar Association, serving as a past president; member of Union Lodge #2 F & AM; the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis; the Murat Shrine; Madison Rotary Club; Jefferson County Lions Club; the former Madison Country Club; Indiana University Alumni Association, and past president of the Madison - Jefferson County Public Library. He was the author of more than twenty books, most of them suspense novels, issued from St. Martin's Press, Doubleday, Walker and other publishers. His approximately 100 short stories were published in Alfred Hitchcock's, Ellery Queen's, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and other mystery, men's, and science fiction magazines and in three collections of short stories published by Doubleday and Five Star. His books and stories were republished by anthologies, book clubs, and paperback reprints and in many languages. At one time his agents estimated that more than two million copies of his books had been sold. His setting for many of his novels was the town of Bington, a combination of Madison and a bit of Bloomington. Several of his novels were named to New York Times and other yearly best books lists. His Most recent novel is ROBAK IN BLACK, (St. Martins, 2001). His most recent collection is DEADLY HUNGER AND OTHER TALES, (Five Star 2001). His last novel is SNOWBIRDS BLOOD, will be published by (St. Martins, in February of 2008). He was also a member of the Mystery Writers of America, the Private Eye Writers of America, and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. The Judge summed up his life by saying for fifty one years, he had served as an attorney, judge, legislator & journalist, a life he enjoyed to the fullest. Joseph died Monday, August 27, 2007 at 8:10 am at the King's Daughters' Hospital in Madison, Indaina. A LOVING FAMILY Judge Hensley will be missed by his son: Attorney, Michael J. Hensley & his wife: Kathy a certified public accountant of Madison, Indiana; his grandson: Evan Michael Hensley, a student at Indiana University of Bloomington, Indiana; his brother: a noted pianist: Tom Hensley & his wife: Sarah of Sherman Oaks, California; his much younger sister: Patricia Boyd & her husband: Lon of East Germantown, Indiana; numerous nieces, nephews & other relatives & friends. He was preceded in death by his parents: Ralph Raymond & Frances Mae Wilson Hensley; his loving wife: Charlotte Ruth Bettinger Hensley died on June 10, 2000; his brother: Donald Hensley died in 1925; his sister: Mary Anne Burman, a nurse who died in 1986. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted Friday, August 31, 2007 at 11:00 am, by the Rev. John A. Meyer at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive, Madison, Indiana. Private Interment will be in the St. Patrick Catholic Cemetery in Madison, Indiana, with military honors conducted by Jefferson Post 9, of the American Legion. VISITATION Friends may call Thursday from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm and Friday from 10:00 am until time of the service at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive, Madison, Indiana. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to Salvation Army; Friends of Shawe & Pope John or the Yunker Foundation. Cards are available at the funeral home. 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