Kern County CA Obituary Project Obituaries.....Henley, Thomas B. September 25 2004 ********************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/obits/obitsca/obitsca.htm ********************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: K T bluewolf@onemain.com September 29, 2004, 9:00 pm The Bakersfield Californian Thomas B. Henley Nov. 6, 1915 Sept. 25, 2004 Tom Henley was an exceptional man in every facet of his life. Tom loved his family dearly; was a wonderful father figure to his niece, father to his children, husband, son, brother, uncle and grandfather. He was very interested in genealogy and traced all of our family lines back for several centuries. Tom was also a kind and thoughtful neighbor; the original Mr. Fix-it for one and all. He would drop everything at a moments notice to help anyone in need; he never knew a stranger. Family gatherings often included people who Tom knew, who did not have family of their own, to share holidays with us everyone was always welcome into his home. Tom traveled the globe, always looking for adventure, searching to learn new things about the world and the people in it, he made friends wherever he went. One of his most exciting experiences was working with his brother Joe as an overseer for the Panama Canal project in Central America. Tom was a gifted storyteller and his true life stories enthralled everyone that he shared them with. He had a very curious nature; he was interested in everything and everyone around him. He was never bored with life and could always think of something new and exciting to do. Thomas B. Henley was born in Bakersfield, on November 6, 1915 to Herbert and Ruth Smith Henley. He was born at the home of his grandfather, Dr. Samuel F. Smith; who was the first physician in the Bakersfield area, and cofounder of the San Joaquin Hospital; and was delivered by his uncle, Dr. Joseph K. Smith, who later, was administrator of the hospital. Tom attended local schools; which are now Bakersfield High School and Bakersfield College. He continued his education at U.C. Berkeley where he earned a B.A. in Political Science, and was a member of Phi Delta Kappa. Tom then stayed at U.C. Berkeleys Boalt School of Law and had planned to complete his law degree; however, World War II interceded and prior to Pearl Harbor Tom enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was stationed in the Arctic, on Baffin Island, was in charge of the weather station and the dozen men assigned under him. They lived in primitive, very cold conditions, and Tom got to know the Eskimo culture very well. He discovered driving snow sleds, pulled by teams of dogs, and truly enjoyed working with the dogs. After the war he continued working with dogs and was a member of the American Kennel Club for many years. Tom returned to Bakersfield and met his future wife, Daphne McKinley, who was the daughter of close friends of Toms mother. Tom and Daphne were married at the McKinley Ranch, in Pond, CA, on July 7, 1946. Tom joined the McKinley Ranch team for a while (he always was a rancher at heart). Later in life he would go back and forth between working in the areas of education, and then ranching, and then back again to education making the switch several times. During the 1950s Tom returned to the U.C. Berkeley campus and received an M.S. in Political Science; an M.S. Ed. in school administration and continued with course work at USC. Toms love of learning continued throughout his entire life. He ended his working career in Kern County and was a site administrator at Arvin High School, McFarland High School, and West High School in Bakersfield. He truly enjoyed working with children and helping them with their problems. Tom was active in a variety of areas including the Lions Clubs in Bakersfield and McFarland, the Kern County Mineral Society (and countless hours of rock hunting), the Kennel Club among others. One of Toms favorite activities after retirement was working with the Kern County Junior Golf Association and being able to introduce all of his grandchildren to the game of golf. He was an avid outdoors man and loved to golf, fish, hunt, hike and camp. Most of all he loved to share his experiences with all of those who were fortunate enough to know this remarkable man. Tom was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Daphne; and his brother, Joseph S. Henley. Tom is survived by his sister, Beryl (Peggy) Henley Stotts; niece, Lynn Runyan; children, Melissa and Michael Sarad and Ian and Mary Henley; grandchildren, Matthew, Ian and Joanna Sarad, Rebecca and Tabb Crocker, Ron and Megan Henley; and honorary grandchildren, Marcus and Kelly Runyan and Jonathan and Kimberly Runyan; niece, Lori Henley; and his beloved dog, Trixie. Family graveside services will be Thursday, September 30, 2004, at 10:00 a.m., Greenlawn Mortuary (River Blvd.), Rock of Ages area. Memorial Service will be Saturday, October 23, 2004, at 2:30 p.m. First Congregational Church, 5 Real Road, Bakersfield. Family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to: Alzheimer Disease Association of Kern County, 5500 Olive Drive, Building 1, Bakersfield, CA 93308 or Kern Division CA Retired Teachers Association, KDRT Scholarship Fund, 9705 Chirtsay Way, Bakersfield, CA 93312. Additional Comments: Volunteer submission - No relation to deceased. 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