Robert L. Henley

1944 - 2008

On  May 1, 2008  Robert L. Henley, loving husband of Ruby Henley, passed away at his home in Laurel, Maryland. 

He was born on July 30, 1944 in Sharon, West Virginia to the late Cecelia and Everett Henley.  He accepted the Lord at an early age at the Mt. Mariah Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.  After graduating from East Technical High School in June, 1962, Robert immediately joined the United States Air force.  From June 1962 to June 1970, Robert was a member of the U. S. Air Force stationed at various bases around the world.  As an aircraft mechanic assigned to flight line maintenance section, he performed preflight, post flight, and periodic type inspections on a variety of Air Force aircraft.   These included the  C-124, C-47, AC-47, C-54, C-118, T-29 and the  C-131 aircraft.

During his military service, he served dutifully at various bases or places around the world including Japan and Vietnam. Following his honorable discharge from the United States Air Force, Tech Sgt Henley, worked briefly with the Chesapeake and Potomac Telephone Company as an installer before accepting a job at the Andrews Air Force Base with the 459 Reserve Tactical Airlift Wing as the Crew Chief on a C-130 aircraft.  He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve in June, 1983, with the rank of Master Sergeant (E-7).

Robert’s long career with the federal government has included his positions with the Defense Contract Administration Services, Naval Air Systems Command, Naval Weapons Engineering, Naval Air Systems Command and with the Federal Aviation Administration as an Aviation Safety Inspector investigating major or significant aircraft accidents and incidents around the world.  After retiring from the federal government in August, 2001, Robert served as an aviation consultant providing aviation subject matter expertise to the Crown Consulting Company. 

Robert is survived by his wife, Ruby Henley; his daughters, Stacey Henley (Ogden, UT), and Michele Henley (Baltimore, MD) and son, Kevin Henley (Bowie, MD); sisters Lola Henley and Jacqueline Motley (Cleveland, OH), grandson, Jourdan Henley (Ogden, UT) and a host of other relatives and friends.