Obituary of Richard H. Hency

Richard H. Hency, 88, of Canajoharie passed away Tuesday October 6, 2009 at the Edward L. Wilkinson Residential Health Care Facility in Amsterdam, after a brief illness. Born December 2, 1920 in Canajoharie, he was the son of the late Henry Hency and Augusta Abeling Hency. As a student he excelled in sports and in area theatrical productions. Summers he worked as a tour guide for Beechnut in Canajoharie. During World War II he spent three years in the United States Air Force. He served with the China Burma India - Air Transport Command carrying reinforcement supplies to troops. One of his most recent vacations was to Georgia for a reunion of Veterans serving in this Command. Upon his honorable discharge he earned Associate degrees in Journalism and Mechanical Technology. He was employed by Beechnut for 42 years as a machinist, at times traveling to various plant locations on special projects. During that time he was a past secretary with the Millers Union and a Union contract negotiator with the Bakers and Confectioners Union. Mr. Hency was also a well-known reporter and photographer for the Courier-Standard- Enterprise, the Amsterdam Recorder, and the Leader Herald. As a writer for Lee Publications he contributed to various publications such as the Hard Hat News, Country Folks, and Country Folks Grower. As a former Editor of the Courier- Standard-Enterprise he wrote an historical column, for which he received much fan mail, which he kept and cherished. In 1992 he won first place for Spot News Coverage, in the New York Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest. A man also dedicated to his community, during his lifetime, he was involved in many organizations; the Palatine Canajoharie Chamber of Commerce former secretary; Canajoharie Fort Plain Elks Lodge former Exhaulted Ruler; American Veterans Post former Commander; American Legion; CBI Association; Air Transport Association; Veterans of Foreign Wars; Hamilton Lodge Free and Excepted Masons; Canajoharie Volunteer Police; Canajoharie Moose Lodge; Lions Club; and the Fish and Game Club. He was a former member of the St Johns and St Marks Lutheran Church and a current member of the Christian Church of Rural Grove. His energy and interests were limitless. He caned chairs, painted pictures, built furniture, gardened, and traveled. He loved to research and debate historical and religious topics. Above all, he loved his family, and will be missed by all who knew him. He leaves a daughter, Deborah Hency Wheeler and her husband Robert of Massachusetts; two grandsons, Matthew Wheeler and Benjamin Wheeler of Massachusetts; a niece Susan Wofford of California; and many friends. Two brothers Donald Hency of California and Harry Hency of Canajoharie predeceased him. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, October 17, 2009 at 11 o'clock at The Christian Church of Rural Grove with Pastor Joshua Fetterhoff presiding. Relatives and friends are invited and may call from 4 until 7, Friday, October 16, 2009 at the Lenz & Betz Funeral Home, 69 Otsego Street, Canajoharie, NY; where his arrangements have been entrusted. Burial of his remains will take place on Friday, October 23, 2009 at 2 o'clock at the Gerald B.H. Solomon, Saratoga National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider the Christian Church of Rural Grove, 170 Rural Grove Road, Sprakers, NY 12166 or the Ayres Memorial Animal Shelter, 133 Hilltop Road, Sprakers, NY 12166.