Bernard Schenk

Bernard “Barney” Otto John Schenk of Thomasville, AL passed away on November 29, 2013 in Grove Hill Hospital after a brief illness. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy “Dot” Plummer Schenk who passed away only four weeks prior on November 1st. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, son, brother, uncle, and friend. He is survived by two sons and their wives, Joe (Jacque) Schenk of Corpus Christi, TX and Jim (Susan) Schenk of Birmingham, AL; four grandchildren, Brian, Stuart, John (Whitney), and Abby (J. D. Gray), two great grandchildren, Dottie Gray and John David Gray, Jr. He was also preceded in death by his parents, John H. and Clara Zemke Schenk, brother, John Schenk, brother in law, Grover Durant. He is survived by his sister, Evelyn Schenk Durant, sister in laws, Hazel Plummer, Betty Barfield, Cissy Crim, brother in laws, M. C. Plummer, Doug Barfield, Dewey Crim, as well as numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. Barney was born in Chicago, IL on July 31, 1925, but his family moved to Elberta, AL when he was a child. He graduated from Foley High School and joined the U. S. Army Air Force during World War II. Barney was an excellent marksman and was trained as a nose gunner on a B-24 bomber crew. He was in New York City prepared for deployment when the war ended and consequently served in the Army Occupation Forces in Italy, Germany, and Austria. He was discharged in 1946, and returned to Baldwin County, AL where he farmed with his father, and later worked in land surveying in Mobile, AL in 1949, he reenlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served until retiring in 1974. He worked with B-49 bombers and finished his career as a Master Sergeant, specializing in electronics for launch and checkout equipment for ICBM Titan II missiles. Upon retirement, Barney and Dot moved to Thomasville to be closer to Dot’s family. He had studied TV repair prior to retirement and worked at several locations including Barfield Furniture Company, Estes TV Repair, and Mott’s TV Repair until completely retiring. He was an avid fisherman, liked working on his computer, and took up golf at the age of 70 enjoying it for the rest of his life. Due to his 27 year career in the Air Force, he and Dot had many friends across the country and enjoyed traveling to visit them as well as entertaining them in their home. Barney and Dot always welcomed family and friends with delicious food, and games of all kinds were played. He thoroughly enjoyed any kind of game, especially cards and dominoes, and was always a serious competitor. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 10:00 am at O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Thomasville, AL with visitation from 9:00 am to 10:00 am. Following the Thomasville service, he will be buried with military honors at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL at 2:00 pm. Officiating at both services will be Dr. James Best (Thomasville Baptist Church), assisted in Montevallo by Associate Pastor Chris Sullivan (Hunter Street Baptist Church – Birmingham). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to: VFW Post 5106, at 222 Hurricane Lane, Grove Hill, AL 36451 or your favorite charity. Arrangements by O’Bryant Chapel Funeral Home in Thomasville, AL.

All obituaries taken from the website of the corresponding funeral home unless otherwise noted.