Flora — William A. “Bill” Schenck, 79, Flora, died unexpectedly at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010, at Clarian Arnett Hospital, Lafayette. He was born Jan. 13, 1931, in Owen County, to the late Rev. Arthur and Rachel Kinkead Schenck. His marriage was to Hazel E. Strohmier in Dublin on July 25, 1953, and she survives.
He was a 1948 graduate of New Richmond High School, a 1952 graduate from Ball State Teachers College with a B.S. in business education, and graduated from navigator school at Ellington AFB in Texas.
He was a USAF veteran, serving 20 years and retiring as a major. He was a navigator in the B-29, B-52 and RF4 aircraft. He served a tour in Vietnam, flying 122 missions in the RF4 doing reconnaissance work. During the Cold War era, he flew 24-hour missions in the B-29 and was in on the first test flights of the B-29 air to surface missiles. During his 20-year career, he was stationed at Guam, Great Falls, Mont., Sacramento, Calif., Roswell, N.M., Rome, N.Y., Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico, Southern Illinois University ROTC, Carbondale, Ill., Mt. Home, Idaho, and retired from Goldsboro, N.C., AFB in 1972.
He and his wife then moved back to Burlington, living there for 10 years before moving to Landrum, S.C., where he built their house. They lived there for 10 years before moving to Bartow and Milton, Fla., living there for a combined 22 years before moving back to Flora in May of this year.
He was a member of Burlington United Methodist Church, Burlington Kiwanis and Burlington American Legion. He was an avid woodworker, building more than 200 rocking horses for family, and gave most of them away to underprivileged children. He enjoyed golf, sports, helped umpire little league baseball games, and was a blood donor, receiving a multi-gallon pin.
He is survived by his wife, Hazel E. Schenck, Flora; daughter, Terry and Brad Moore, Burlington; sons, John A. Schenck, Pace, Fla., and Phillip C. Schenck, Landrum, S.C.; sisters, Margaret “Maggie” Schenck, Flora, Marjorie and Joe Viney, Bringhurst, and Marthena and Don Smith, Edwards, Mo.; brother, Robert and Janet Schenck, Leesburg, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
He was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Renee’, and an infant sister.
Friends may call 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Baker-Abbott Funeral Home, Flora, with services there at 10 a.m. Saturday, with Pastor Steve Johnson officiating. Burial with Burlington American Legion Military Rites will be in Maple Lawn Cemetery, Flora.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Burlington Kiwanis Club with envelopes available at the funeral home. Online condolences can be made at www.baker-abbottfh.com.
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